Ball python growth

Hi everyone

I have a question about the growth of ball pythons. Its not about mine, but about my friend's. He got his ball python in november at slightly larger than hatchling size. He's been keeping it in a 20 long aquarium, with a heat lamp and heat pad, aspen bedding, and some plants and hides and water bowl. He started off feeding it on mouse fuzzies (which i told him were too small), then he started giving it 2 fuzzies, and just recently on rat pinkies. Weird thing is, it doesn't seem to have grown much at all. Maybe a couple of inches. My ball python grew a foot from 3 feet since i got it late november last year at already 4 years old. Anyone have any ideas of why this is occurring?

Are you guys weighting it? I think weight might be a better measuring stick then length. He can go to Target or Wal-Mart & get a small food scale @ measure b4 feedings & after it empties.

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Originally Posted by Gene0514

Hi everyone

I have a question about the growth of ball pythons. Its not about mine, but about my friend's. He got his ball python in november at slightly larger than hatchling size. He's been keeping it in a 20 long aquarium, with a heat lamp and heat pad, aspen bedding, and some plants and hides and water bowl. He started off feeding it on mouse fuzzies (which i told him were too small), then he started giving it 2 fuzzies, and just recently on rat pinkies. Weird thing is, it doesn't seem to have grown much at all. Maybe a couple of inches. My ball python grew a foot from 3 feet since i got it late november last year at already 4 years old. Anyone have any ideas of why this is occurring?

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Ball pythons can eat much more than pinkies and fuzzies even as hatchlings. He should switch to hoppers and depending on his weight, rat pups would make him gain weight. You should weigh him in grams or post a picture to give us a better idea of his size.

He started feeding it 2 or 3 rat pinkies per feeding just recently

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/8941/ajpython.jpg

Sorry to double post but i forgot to add that this picture is from soon after he got it
Its slightly bigger but not much more than the pic
I think that since he had it for 6-7 months, there should have been a large difference in length
Considering it was basically hatchling size when he got it
Its not even 2 feet long yet, like 15 or 16 inches i think

It looks a little thin, but not emaciated. Most hatchlings I've had grew more than that, but every one is different and all my balls are started on appropriately sized rats. There is no reason to ever feed mice. Now that its moved onto rats, there should be a major difference in growth. At its size it will have no problem eating much larger than a pink. Fuzzies or so would be better. 1-1 1/2 times as big around as the fattest part of its body.

Logically, yes there should be a major difference if fed properly, and the snake is healthy and internally correct, and a good feeder.
My ball doubled in size from hatchling to 7months old.

My hatchling started on small adult mice, then worked up to 2 mice, and is now on small rats and he is about a year old. He was started on mice because there were no rats small enough. Not everyone has access to rat pups.

The snake could also have parasites which are not allowing it to grow properly.

Rat pups easily. If he feeds a rat pup every 5-7 days that baby will put on some much needed weight. Good luck.

Alright guys
I'll tell my friend to give it rat pups instead
Thanks everyone
I'll let you guys know how it does

Not sure why everyone is so hung up when getting a snake on how long it is. Length means squat if their under weight.

Ive NEVER in all my years measured a snake and never will. I give weights out only and thats all that matters.

And yes that snake from Nov to now if eating should be well over 300g and should be eating rat pups not pinkies.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Not sure why everyone is so hung up when getting a snake on how long it is. Length means squat if their under weight.

Ive NEVER in all my years measured a snake and never will. I give weights out only and thats all that matters.

And yes that snake from Nov to now if eating should be well over 300g and should be eating rat pups not pinkies.

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Right?? Who cares how long it is. It's a BP, not a retic..

That little snake should be quite thick right now. Even if it was a picky eater, it would have noticeable thickness around the center 2/3 of it's body. BPs (unless they are new hatchlings) should be short and thick. Not long and "snakey".

The local pet store near him didn't carry rat pups for some reason so he got adult mice instead.
The python took a mouse without any problems.
So we'll see if it gains size more on the mice

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gene0514

The local pet store near him didn't carry rat pups for some reason so he got adult mice instead.
The python took a mouse without any problems.
So we'll see if it gains size more on the mice

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He'd be better off buying a bag of f/t rat pups from the next show he goes to. They are so cheap and will make him gain weight quicker than mice.

Are the nutritional differences that large?

Yep, here is a good site that gives the nutritional difference in feeders.
http://www.rodentpro.com/qpage_articles_03.asp

Thanks
Does the ~.4 kcal/g difference in gross energy make that much of a difference in growth rate?
If so, after he feeds off the mice, maybe i can get him a pack of rat pups from around here

All I know is from experience, my ball pythons have put on and kept healthy weights since being on rats. But I have also heard people who feed mice regularly without issue. I have one female who refuses rats, so she is on adult mice but she is definitely growing slower than my others on rats.

Ah ok thanks