General guideline for age/weight ratio.

Is there a list somewhere of what a bp should generally weigh according to their age? I know it can be variable (just like people), but I'd really like some reference points. Thanks!

There are so many variables Julie. I have a 3 year old female that's only 900g, also have a yearling at 900g.

I was afraid of that. What about a general guideline as to what's considered underweight?

A yearling at under 300g, a snake with loose skin, or it's ribs showing, or it's overall apearance is just scrawny looking

Is there a particular animal you need advice on? If so post a pic :)

I was really just curious about my adopted girl. The guy we adopted her from (and who was neglecting her) said she was 2 years old, but she only weighed in at a little over 300g. I was just curious to find out if she was really 2 years old, or only a year old. I'm honestly hoping she's just a year old because that makes a little more sense with her weight.

Here's her pics a little while after bringing her home.

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...7/img_5459.jpg

And here she is now.

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...7/img_5606.jpg

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...7/img_5596.jpg

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...7/img_5585.jpg

Thoughts? She's eating like a champ and has gained weight steadily.

She is pretty :), how often was the guy feeding her? she could very well be the stated age, if she were fed a mouse once a month, put her on a 5 day feed schedule, she'll pick up weight in no time.

Thanks! As you can tell, my dog really loves her, lol.

He was throwing a mouse in her tank every 2 weeks (I have no idea what size). She was living in a cold basement, no heat. When we went to look at her, she struck at the tank as soon as we got near. The guy freaked and panicked when I wanted to hold her, lol. Poor thing was just hungry.

Now, she's on a 5 day feed and I'm just moving up to large mice, getting ready to switch to rats soon (gotta way for next weeks expo to get my first supply, lol!). I can barely get the mouse into the tub before she strikes.

Thanks for the thoughts. She really looks healthy - no loose skin, etc. - but I thought she was on the small side for a 2 year old. I guess time will tell!

There are no guideline there are way to many factors such as size out of the egg, how fast the animal was started, feeding schedule, prey size, whether or not the animal fast or is a consistent feeder, the animal itself etc.

For example to show you so differences out 4 of my females, I have a 5 year old female that is 3200 grams while another 5 year old is 2200 grams, I also have a 4 year old female that is barely 1200 grams and I have a 1 year old that is already 1300 grams.

Okay, so it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities that she's a healthy 2 year old at only 350g's, now that she's getting steady feedings, proper care, etc. That makes me feel better!

mice are too small for a snake that size. people always underestimate balls and size of food. i feed babies out of the egg small adult mice. at that size she should be on weanling rats or at the least 2 mice.
she doesnt seem skinny just small for her age. quite small imho. i have 2011 babies that are already that weight. you can tell she is older because she has some length to her. id say step up the size of the food after a few smaller feedings to make sure her digestive system is working properly. one she is eating and doing well i would try and switch her to rats.
id also just like to say she is a very pretty ball. id consider her a dinker. almost chocolate like. very nice blushing nice donuts and not alot of alien heads. do you have a picture of her belly?
is it solid white?
beutiful snake and i hope she gets all that she was missing now.
adam jeffery

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JulieInNJ

Okay, so it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities that she's a healthy 2 year old at only 350g's, now that she's getting steady feedings, proper care, etc. That makes me feel better!

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Is it possible? Yes but there are a few thing I would check on also

#1 whether she is really a she.
#2 I would have a fecal done as well.

Not sure who you got her from but 350 grams at 2 years would be considered VERY VERY small.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by adamjeffery

mice are too small for a snake that size. people always underestimate balls and size of food. i feed babies out of the egg small adult mice. at that size she should be on weanling rats or at the least 2 mice.
she doesnt seem skinny just small for her age. quite small imho. i have 2011 babies that are already that weight. you can tell she is older because she has some length to her. id say step up the size of the food after a few smaller feedings to make sure her digestive system is working properly. one she is eating and doing well i would try and switch her to rats.
id also just like to say she is a very pretty ball. id consider her a dinker. almost chocolate like. very nice blushing nice donuts and not alot of alien heads. do you have a picture of her belly?
is it solid white?
beutiful snake and i hope she gets all that she was missing now.
adam jeffery

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Thanks! I'm picking up rats next week at an expo so I'll definitely bump up the size of the feeders. Here's her belly.

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/files/2/3/5/4/7/2.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Not sure who you got her from but 350 grams at 2 years would be considered VERY VERY small.

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She came from a private home, and that owner got her from a friend, so I honestly have no idea where she came from originally. We have her third hand which is why I know so little about her. I'll ring up our local herp vet to see about scheduling an exam.

As there are no real guidlines if she is in the 300 to 400 gram range id say at some point she wasnt fed regurlally. The first 500 grams seem to take the longest to gain. After 500 they tend to take off. Usually they will get to that 500 in the first year or maore if they are on a regular rat regiment. Id get her off mice if thats what shes on and get her on rats. She could be stunted at this point if she is in fact 2 years old but she could still end up putting on alot of weight. About 6 years ago i imported a group of balls females. 10 were ghana balls, and 20 were a mixture of females from benine and togo. The ghana girls got huge fast. I have 5 of them up to 3200 to 4000 grams at full weight going into cooling season. The other balls from benine and togo are a respectful 2500 grams there about. So i would say locale has alot to do with it and all captive balls came from those locales at some point down the line. No heres another example. Last june 2010 i hatched out a clutch of mojaves. 3 females, 1 male and 3 male normals. I kept one female and sold the others. The one i kept is 920 grams right now and she has been on a weekly feed regiment since hatch. The ones i sold to my buddy eat mice every 2 weeks and they are in the 450 gram range so thats the difference between rats and mice. Your animal looks totally healthy and i wouldnt worry unless your plan was to breed her and then id say shes gonna take a while to get to weight but by the time she does she will be sexually mature for sure which is another thing some people dont take into consideration. Some people think just cause the animal is at breeding weight it will breed. The animal has to be sexually mature as well and sometimes it takes longer. I dont like breeding my girls till they are at least 3 years old and 1500 grams. Sometimes i sway a little from that but i try and stick to that.

Thanks so much. I'm starting to feel a little better, but a vet visit is definitely in order.