Mia

Hello all !!

Today was weigh day for Mia. I personally think she looks good, no ribs showing so she's nice and chunky, eating and pooping well, but her weight says she's small.

I already know they grow at different rates but everything I read on weight says she's small.

Do I need to worry?
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It's so great that she's looking good and has turned into a good eater, esp after her rough start! I'd go by body condition, not the number on the scale. As long as she looks proportional and is growing, that's what matters. Slow growth is better in the long run anyway. Two other thoughts:

Are you sure she's a "she"? If I'm remembering right, you got her at a pet store, but I don't remember who sexed her for you? Males are generally smaller, so that could be one explanation.

What size rodent is she on? Most of ours have relatively slow growth until they get on weaned rats. Then they seem to fill out pretty nicely. It could just be that she is still working up to a larger prey size.

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Originally Posted by WhompingWillow

It's so great that she's looking good and has turned into a good eater, esp after her rough start! I'd go by body condition, not the number on the scale. As long as she looks proportional and is growing, that's what matters. Slow growth is better in the long run anyway. Two other thoughts:

Are you sure she's a "she"? If I'm remembering right, you got her at a pet store, but I don't remember who sexed her for you? Males are generally smaller, so that could be one explanation.

What size rodent is she on? Most of ours have relatively slow growth until they get on weaned rats. Then they seem to fill out pretty nicely. It could just be that she is still working up to a larger prey size.

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^ fantastic input above

She is eating medium mice.

The vet sexed her for us.
And she should be about 10 months old now...or close. No idea for sure.

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So she's gained 155g in 8 months...

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Originally Posted by Maybeka

So she's gained 155g in 8 months...

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so she's gained ~20g a month. that's incredible growth!!!

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Originally Posted by Maybeka

She is eating medium mice.

The vet sexed her for us.
And she should be about 10 months old now...or close. No idea for sure.

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I find it helpful with our young or lesser weight snakes to go by the 10-15% body weight rule. So at 262 grams she should be getting a rodent that's at least 26 grams, could go all the way up to 39.

I'm not sure how big your medium mice are, but according to Perfect Prey, their adult mice are 18-32 grams. So it's very possible that she should be getting a larger mouse or two medium ones. Have you thought about trying to switch her to rats?

I just looked at the chart and I shouls five her a rat pup or large mouse.

Having a hard time believing that she can eat something bigger as it takes a while to eat what she's eating now!

Is it hard to switch from mice to rat pups?

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Originally Posted by Maybeka

I just looked at the chart and I shouls five her a rat pup or large mouse.

Having a hard time believing that she can eat something bigger as it takes a while to eat what she's eating now!

Is it hard to switch from mice to rat pups?

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in my experiences: making the switch from mice to rats was as simple as offering. [emoji3]

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

in my experiences: making the switch from mice to rats was as simple as offering. [emoji3]

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Which would be better...large mouse or rat pup?

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Originally Posted by Maybeka

Which would be better...large mouse or rat pup?

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rat pup: less fat, more meat.

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Originally Posted by Maybeka

Which would be better...large mouse or rat pup?

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Personally I'd try to switch to rats, as it will be a lot easier to offer one rat when she's larger vs. multiple mice per feeding. There are a lot of great resources on here about making the transition. I've had success thawing a rat and mouse in the same bag so that the rat is scented. With our pickiest BP, we had to do this I think 3 times before he just started accepting the rats as is. Everybody else either took rats right away or we only had to scent the rat once.

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Originally Posted by WhompingWillow

Personally I'd try to switch to rats, as it will be a lot easier to offer one rat when she's larger vs. multiple mice per feeding. There are a lot of great resources on here about making the transition. I've had success thawing a rat and mouse in the same bag so that the rat is scented. With our pickiest BP, we had to do this I think 3 times before he just started accepting the rats as is. Everybody else either took rats right away or we only had to scent the rat once.

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Well then guess what Mia is getting next feeding...
Usually feeding is Friday nights but she's off normal schedule because her last shed took longer and she flat out refused to eat for 2 weeks.

Feeding is Tuesday now..unless she's out cruising and looks hungry my son may feed her sooner.

Thanks for all the advice. I'll le y'all know how the rat goes!