Weight/Length

We received another pic of Punkin and first knee-jerk response Mike and I had was "gee looks a lil on the thin side". I've posted two pics of Punkin and would appreciate opinions. Questons:

1) Is there any sort of rule of thumb as far as grams per inch with Ball Pythons and if there is, is it dependent at all on sex and stage of life. Punkin is approximately 18 months old, unsexed and eats one mouse (not sure of size) per week and has only refused to eat once for a short period so the current owners tell us.

2) Should a BP of this age be eating more than this.

3) We want to switch Punkin over to rats (if possible) as we've noticed most feed rats. Is there a nutrional reason for rats over mice?

4) If the vet determines that Punkin is underweight, what's the best advice for putting weight on a BP? Do you just try to get them to eat bigger prey or feed more than once per week or feed more than one prey animal per feeding?


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...kes/Punkin.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ringPunkin.jpg

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

We received another pic of Punkin and first knee-jerk response Mike and I had was "gee looks a lil on the thin side". I've posted two pics of Punkin and would appreciate opinions. Questons:

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Answers:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

1) Is there any sort of rule of thumb as far as grams per inch with Ball Pythons and if there is, is it dependent at all on sex and stage of life. Punkin is approximately 18 months old, unsexed and eats one mouse (not sure of size) per week and has only refused to eat once for a short period so the current owners tell us.

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No. ball pythons should have a rounded or pear shape with no visible spine. Their skin should be smooth and taunt and you should not be able to pinch any loose skin along their sides ... particularly on the lower third of their body.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

2) Should a BP of this age be eating more than this.

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You can't make a bp of any age eat more than it wants. When you get him/her you can certainly offer multiple rodents per feeding, but just be aware that ball pythons have a tendency to "fill and fast"; meaning that they will eat all they are offered and then take a long break. I personally prefer to offer just enough and have consistent weekly feeders.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

3) We want to switch Punkin over to rats (if possible) as we've noticed most feed rats. Is there a nutrional reason for rats over mice?

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There are studies that indicate rats at certain sizes are higher in some nutrients than mice at other sizes and vice versa and blah blah blah ... but, there is no corresponding study that shows the exact nutritional needs of a ball python so in my opinion the point is moot. I have many adult ball pythons that eat several mice a week and many more that eat rats ... like I said, you can't "make" a ball python eat anything ... feed what is convenient and what your snake will eat and it will be fine. (Also realize that these are animals that probably have evolved to eat only a handful of times a year in the wild, so getting a mouse every week is heaven!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

4) If the vet determines that Punkin is underweight, what's the best advice for putting weight on a BP? Do you just try to get them to eat bigger prey or feed more than once per week or feed more than one prey animal per feeding?

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It your snake is underweight, you could try feeding 2 mice per week (double his/her food intake will make your snake big quick) ... if that doesn't work, feeding a single item every 4 days would be just as effective.


FWIW, your snake does not look underweight from the pictures at all. But they are only pictures and it's hard to say without seeing him/her first hand.

-adam

The snake doesn't look too underweight, but you can establish that fact when you see him/her first hand and are able to feel its body for yourself. If the body is firm and the skin feels smooth, with no visible spine showing, then it should be alright. You can do a skin pinch test to determine hydration level by pinching(lightly) the skin on their sides on the lower part of their body. If it "tents" and remains for more than 2 seconds, they are slightly dehydrated. If it pops right back down, then they are good to go.

From what I see, the snake looks pretty good pending vet check. But it doesn't look 18 months old unless it is extremely stunted. My 8 month old is much bigger. Just remember, it depends on the environmental conditions the snake has been living in, the amount of food and the frequency, and genetic factors can come into play as well.

Hopefully the vet check can point out anything abnormal and you can go from there. :)

Thanks for the input as always. We did think it looked sorta smallish or thin for it's stated age but since there's no paperwork with Punkin we are just going on what we've been told thus far. The owners do seem good people just admittedly were not ready for the responsibilities of a Ball (it was given to them as a gift which personally I have "issues" with but I won't get on my soap box) so I'm pretty sure they did the best they could with Punkin. Thanks for the info on how to check for dehydration, hadn't seen that posted on before. We'll post more on this after Punkin sees the vet.