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Is my snake underweight?

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  • 04-06-2017, 09:41 AM
    Booper
    Is my snake underweight?
    Hi all,
    I'm a bit concerned that my BP hasn't gained enough weight. She's about 8 months old, and weighs 200g. She's about 50cm in length from the back of her head to her tail. We've been feeding her two mice (refuses rats) of about 13g a week, with a three day interval for the past two weeks, with one mouse of that size in the weeks before. We haven't sized up as the mice at the pet food shop are too big. She should certainly be bigger than 200g, right? Any insight and guidance into how to fatten her up safely is most appreciated!
  • 04-06-2017, 09:51 AM
    JodanOrNoDan
    Re: Is my snake underweight?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Booper View Post
    Hi all,
    I'm a bit concerned that my BP hasn't gained enough weight. She's about 8 months old, and weighs 200g. She's about 50cm in length from the back of her head to her tail. We've been feeding her two mice (refuses rats) of about 13g a week, with a three day interval for the past two weeks, with one mouse of that size in the weeks before. We haven't sized up as the mice at the pet food shop are too big. She should certainly be bigger than 200g, right? Any insight and guidance into how to fatten her up safely is most appreciated!

    This is below average growth but that does not necessarily mean there is a problem. They grow at different rates. What matters is proportion. I have ones that are that age and over 1000 grams and some much less. Post a picture of the animal if you can. As far as eating make sure everything on the caresheet is taken care of.
  • 04-06-2017, 03:04 PM
    Booper
    This is the best picture I could get, she dosen't like to sit still for long lol. Let me know if you need something better...

    https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...m%2Fx3ty8l.jpg

    Also the link to the caresheet dosen't open... I had a look though and the thread for the BP feeding guild lines two 13g mice seem about right for a 200g snake. I also had a look at the Ball Python caresheet (I guess that's the one you linked?) and we follow those guild lines.
  • 04-06-2017, 03:09 PM
    JodanOrNoDan
    Re: Is my snake underweight?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Booper View Post
    This is the best picture I could get, she dosen't like to sit still for long lol. Let me know if you need something better...

    https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...m%2Fx3ty8l.jpg

    Also the link to the caresheet dosen't open... I had a look though and the thread for the BP feeding guild lines two 13g mice seem about right for a 200g snake. I also had a look at the Ball Python caresheet (I guess that's the one you linked?) and we follow those guild lines.

    Sorry about the link. Don't know what is going on there. From what I can see your animal looks pretty healthy. As long as it is keeping those proportions I would not worry too much. To get animals eating rats I have had a lot of success first scenting a mouse with a rat for a feeding then scenting a rat with a mouse for the next. After that most of them will switch over.
  • 04-06-2017, 03:43 PM
    Booper
    Thank you so much :)
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