Is my BP underweight?

Hey everybody, as the title says, I am curious if my ball python is underweight.
Right now she is right at 2 feet, and 208 grams completely empty. She is a terrific eater Not 100% sure on age, but my best guess is about 3 months old.

She eats two mice once a week and I have been thinking about feeding her every 5 days instead of every 7. Please just let me know what y'all think.

Picture?

I was just getti g ready to post some pics, you beat me to it lol.

This was taken yesterday, right before she shed
http://i1055.photobucket.com/albums/...3/57f1f778.jpg

These I just took
http://i1055.photobucket.com/albums/...3/d7da17fb.jpg

http://i1055.photobucket.com/albums/...3/0dcacccc.jpg

http://i1055.photobucket.com/albums/...3/9b329f94.jpg

I am a big fan of feeding my younger snakes twice a week. I personally think that they are much healthier when given smaller meals closer together. Smaller meals are easier to digest and usually allow the snake to be active in a much shorter time frame.

I have been feeding mine twice a week for awhile now and they are all putting on weight. And the weight they are putting on is healthy weight, lean mass not fat.

To answer your question the your snake seems to be a tad under weight for the length. But if it's eating and is active and seems healthy overall you may be fine. What are you currently feeding it? Size? F/T? I would just up the feedings per week, not necessarily the size of the meal. Keep us all posted on what you do and what works for you.

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Originally Posted by EAC Reptiles

I am a big fan of feeding my younger snakes twice a week. I personally think that they are much healthier when given smaller meals closer together. Smaller meals are easier to digest and usually allow the snake to be active in a much shorter time frame.

I have been feeding mine twice a week for awhile now and they are all putting on weight. And the weight they are putting on is healthy weight, lean mass not fat.

To answer your question the your snake seems to be a tad under weight for the length. But if it's eating and is active and seems healthy overall you may be fine. What are you currently feeding it? Size? F/T? I would just up the feedings per week, not necessarily the size of the meal. Keep us all posted on what you do and what works for you.

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Yes I plan on upping her meals to twice a week. But yeah she is very healthy, active, curious, etc.she eats live, and is a TERRIFIC eater, just a little in the scrawny side I guess.

Just saw he pictures. He looks pretty good to me, you don't want a fat snake. I would still up the feeding frequency. But that is just my opinion. Keep him fed well and keep your husbandry on point and you'll be good. I apologize 'she'. Just read that.

Oh and she is eating two live hoppers once a week right now.

He doesn't look underweight to me. He looks "athletic". If he's a great eater I would move up to a every 5 day schedule.
Just saw you said hoppers? Any reason you haven't tried a larger size item?

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Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

Oh and she is eating two live hoppers once a week right now.

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If she is going two live hoppers once a week, try going to one small mouse twice a week. And I would start getting her over to F/T as soon as you can.

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Originally Posted by Rob

He doesn't look underweight to me. He looks "athletic". If he's a great eater I would move up to a every 5 day schedule.
Just saw you said hoppers? Any reason you haven't tried a larger size item?

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Hoppers because the pet store near me only carries hopper sized mice. The next biggest is small rats which are around 70 grams :(

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Originally Posted by EAC Reptiles

If she is going two live hoppers once a week, try going to one small mouse twice a week. And I would start getting her over to F/T as soon as you can.

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Yes I do!! I just haven't gotten around to it yet, but i will be switching her as soon as I can.

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Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

Hoppers because the pet store near me only carries hopper sized mice. The next biggest is small rats which are around 70 grams :(

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I woul try to find another store that has a better selection. Also there is rodent pro, and gourmet rodent That deliver to your door.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rob

I woul try to find another store that has a better selection. Also there is rodent pro, and gourmet rodent That deliver to your door.

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Oh I forgot to mention that the next biggest size is 70 gram rats LIVE. Frozen rodents they have everything from pinkies to adult rats. Definitely need to switch over to frozen ASAP.

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Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

LIVE.

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Ah ok thats a different story. Have you attempted f/t? Some take to it right away with no effort...........then again some never will.

Nope, haven't attempted yet, when I feed her next time, I'll try frozen. Fingers crossed she'll take it!!! :rolleyes:

When I heard what her weight is, I was thinking she might be a tad under weight, but then when I saw the photos, I changed my mind. I think she looks fine at this point.

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Originally Posted by Slim

When I heard what her weight is, I was thinking she might be a tad under weight, but then when I saw the photos, I changed my mind. I think she looks fine at this point.

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Yeah like Rob said, she has an "athletic" build lol
I'm going to try and bump up the frequency of her feeding days and try to put a little more meat on her bones.