BP growing very slow??

I'm not really sure if this is normal or not. My 'girl' I got from Petsmart back in March seems to be growing really slowly. When I first got her, she weighed 160-165g and I weighed her today and she was at 269g. Is 100g in 7 months slow or normal?

She has no problems feeding and has never refused a meal. She sheds normally but only poops when she sheds. That 260g weight up there isn't empty so she probably weighs a little less than that. She's on rat pups and eats one weekly while the male bp I got a week before her in March is already up to weaned rats and has visibly grown.

When I first got her, we had a good battle with mites. We got through it and she seems really healthy and happy with proper temps. But I'm wondering if maybe she has parasites that are keeping her from growing properly?

I just want to get your opinion before I try and get her to a vet. It's going to be tricky because she doesn't poop often and the vet is 2+ hours away. I also don't drive so I'll have to convince someone to drive me, which means I can't just call them up randomly and ask if they'll take me to the vet because she has finished shedding and has decided to poop...

Any help is appreciated :)

If she's eating, pooping, and shedding then she is fine. They all grow at different rates.

I don't think thats something too much to worry about as long as your husbandry is good and that shes eating. However, I don't think anyone on here would be able to give you a solid answer as you know, their growth rates are varied. I know the vet is far for you but I think that would be your best bet. If she was showing signs of stress, it would be easier to tell why, but honestly she may be just a slow grower.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

If she's eating, pooping, and shedding then she is fine. They all grow at different rates.

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That's what I was thinking but I told someone and they said she's probably sick and has parasites. They made it seem like this huge deal and I was neglecting her by not taking her... But if she's doing everything she should be doing, I figured she was okay. Thanks :)

The main question is how much are you feeding and how often?

What does the animal look like?

I really don't pay attention to numbers matter of fact I never weigh my own animals but I pay attention to general health and look.

100g in 7 months is quite little for eating weekly, but I think some photos of her in good lighting in a down shot would help! Maybe some side shots too, just in case.

She eats one 25-30g pup weekly. As far as how she looks, she seems pretty healthy to me. No loose skin, no visible spine... Here's some pics.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10...34273e1319.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10...b64c9979f6.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10...f754db70dd.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10...1797b48600.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10...1898c84bd6.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10...5834230504.jpg

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Have you tried moving her up a size of rat, or feeding her a little more often, say every 5 days instead of every 7. For a female, she is a bit on the skinny side, and her head is large for her body size. Picky eaters and slow growers happens, of course, but that doesn't mean you can't try to help her along. I'm definitely not worried by her appearance at all, she doesn't look malnourished at all.

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Originally Posted by FranklinMorphs

Have you tried moving her up a size of rat, or feeding her a little more often, say every 5 days instead of every 7. For a female, she is a bit on the skinny side, and her head is large for her body size. Picky eaters and slow growers happens, of course, but that doesn't mean you can't try to help her along. I'm definitely not worried by her appearance at all, she doesn't look malnourished at all.

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I posted before about moving her up a size and was told to keep her on pups. The next size up from the breeder, the weaned rats, are pretty big and I'm not sure she can handle them. Maybe if I get the weaned rats from the Petstore for her... They usually run smaller. I just don't want to push her to the next size until she's ready.

I want to add!!! I have no idea if she's actually a female. They said they thought she was but they weren't sure. I've just been going with it. I have no idea how to sex a snake and I'd be afraid to hurt her. There aren't any breeders in my small city so I can't get someone else to do it, either.

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Originally Posted by hazzaram

I posted before about moving her up a size and was told to keep her on pups. The next size up from the breeder, the weaned rats, are pretty big and I'm not sure she can handle them. Maybe if I get the weaned rats from the Petstore for her... They usually run smaller. I just don't want to push her to the next size until she's ready.

I want to add!!! I have no idea if she's actually a female. They said they thought she was but they weren't sure. I've just been going with it. I have no idea how to sex a snake and I'd be afraid to hurt her. There aren't any breeders in my small city so I can't get someone else to do it, either.

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You could try feeding every 5 days instead. They're done digesting around day 3 I believe. We've raised all of ours on a 5 day schedule.

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Originally Posted by Galaxygirl

You could try feeding every 5 days instead. They're done digesting around day 3 I believe. We've raised all of ours on a 5 day schedule.

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This. You can keep her on that schedule until she's taking small rats, and then offer one a week.

If you're worried about parasites you can call the vet and ask if he'll do a fecal exam without seeing the snake. If so ask how to collect and ship the sample.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

This. You can keep her on that schedule until she's taking small rats, and then offer one a week.

If you're worried about parasites you can call the vet and ask if he'll do a fecal exam without seeing the snake. If so ask how to collect and ship the sample.

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I'll try it and see if it helps. It just seems like a lot of eating!

I feed to see a lump in the animal for the first 12-18 months of their life. From hatchling till about 200 grams I feed every three days. All this 2% of their body weight or 1.5x larger than their body stuff is just way to precise for my taste. Feed to see a lump and you'll never go wrong.. I have 1 year old snake that are at 500-1000 grams and eat every week without fail. Hell I had a female spider eat last night while she was locked up with a Calico male so if that tells ya anything.

She looks to be on the skinny side to me too (but nothing bad!)

Feeding the rat pup every 5 days for maybe just a month is good advice, if you're worried- and then bump her up to weaned rats. Just for reference, my previous female ball readily ate weaned rats when she was 300g, and it wasn't big for her at all. They can fit quite a bit LOL.