Proper Weights

I just stole my boyfriend's scale to check the babies' weights and I just wanted to make sure and get a second/third/fourth/etc opinion.

Ophelia: Female
Age: Two Years
Lengths: ~ 40+ Inches.
Weight: 996 grams.

Odysseus: Male
Age: Six weeks.
Length ~ 20+ Inches.
Weight: 335 Grams.

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Originally Posted by Melicious

Odysseus: Male
Age: Six weeks.
Length ~ 20+ Inches.
Weight: 335 Grams.

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That can't be right. It would be impossible for a 6 week old ball python to weigh 335 grams.

-adam

Hn...So he's either not six-weeks-old or my scale is REALLY off. O_O

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Originally Posted by Melicious

Hn...So he's either not six-weeks-old or my scale is REALLY off. O_O

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My guess would be not six weeks old. Maybe "in country" for six weeks but even that is unlikely. I have hatchlings from July that are 350 grams and they are fed every single week.

A better guess would be a CH male from last season that just wasn't fed a lot. Pretty common in the trade.

-adam

who did you get him from? Are you sure he was a new born?

How likely is it that a bp actually hatched six weeks ago? Most that I've heard of were still locking up and their breeders watching for follicles, etc. I suppose a breeder could do his cooling cycle at any point during the year and have his season be different from others, but how often is that done?

Where'd you get the little one?

Yeah...he has been a bit nippy lately. I need to get him to the vet. Female sounds about right though, correct?

I got him from the reptile expo with the hopes that I could give him a much better home than some of the people buying in bulk.

The sad thing is I don't even remember the guy's name.

So. Assumptions aside, he's more along the lines of a year old and he's been malnourished.

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Originally Posted by Melicious

I got him from the reptile expo with the hopes that I could give him a much better home than some of the people buying in bulk.

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Why would you assume that the people buy in bulk would give their animals any less of a home than you would yours? I buy ball pythons "in bulk" and I'm certain that their care is the absolute best available.

-adam

It's not so much that as the way they were handled. I should have known better. I apologize if I offended anyone, I'm just a little upset right now. Is there anyway someone could PM me so that you can call me or I call you. I really need to discuss this with someone...

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Originally Posted by Melicious

It's not so much that as the way they were handled. I should have known better. I apologize if I offended anyone, I'm just a little upset right now. Is there anyway someone could PM me so that you can call me or I call you. I really need to discuss this with someone...

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Discuss what? ... If you're snakes are eating, you have proper temps, they appear outwardly healthy, just keep doing what you're doing ... they'll be fine.

-adam

Temps are almost perfect, they're heating healthily, my female's doing great. I'm just worried about him. I think I did what any person who's too excited about a "too good to be true" deal would do. I even checked my Free Herp file on him and realized that I'd subconsciously put a birthday of about June.

He's a bush-baby. THAT was my big mistake, I think.

birthday of june puts him at a perfect weight... a big fat hungry eating male might be up to 450-500 max if he was born in june, I think mine is around 350 and he was in june or july, let me check his weight.


He just shed/pooped, 250 grams, guess my guestimation sucked ;)

He was an early july baby.

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Originally Posted by Melicious

He's a bush-baby. THAT was my big mistake, I think.

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Not really. If he's eating, I don't see what the issue is?

-adam

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Originally Posted by SnakeySnakeSnake

birthday of june puts him at a perfect weight... a big fat hungry eating male might be up to 450-500 max if he was born in june, I think mine is around 350 and he was in june or july, let me check his weight.

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Thank you.

Adam: Paranoid Mommy. O_o

Don't worry is what is being said I think dear. Import or not, if he's eating and settled in, shedding, pooping, doing the things a nice healthy snake does than you are doing fine and so is he. Most of the snakes I own are either unknown origin rescues/adoptions/bought from a petstore, known WC rescue, etc. We only own one snake bred by a reputable breeder. Now I will say the breeder way is the way to go but most any snake can do well for you given the right environment and good care. Some won't, so it is more worrisome but since it sounds like the little male is doing fine I would count your blessings.


Your female sounds good. We have a female of about the same age and length who is 1,100 grams. They all grow differently (just like human kids) but again if she's eating, pooping, shedding, etc. then you're likely doing just fine.

It's normal to fret a bit. My husband and I are still new in the grand scheme of things and we worry over this or that to some extent. It does get easier with time and experience with them though. Everybody worries to some extent. OCD seems to come with the territory ;)

and i really don't worry about the weight that much . as they all grow at different rate i have a male that was born late july 05 and he's almost 700 grams and then i have a female that going on two years old and she's about 1000 grams anf they both eat every week. the only time i really watch the weight is when there not eating and thats just to make sure they aren't loseing to much weight to fast which could be a sign of a health proplem. but as everyone say if they are eating and the temps are good you and they are fine.

melanie, if you want to get him checked out, there is a good vet in the chesterfield area by chesterfield town center mall. her name is dr. joanne baldwin, she's in the book. like adam said, if they are eating,shedding,pooping and acting normal, it's ok. but if you have a doubt, maybe we could meet up or call dr. baldwin.



vaughn

I really appreciate all of your support and your suggestions.

Vaughn, we'll see about meeting up some time and having you check him out. I guess I'm just a little overly paranoid. Ophelia was so much easier to take care of. ^_^ Well...we live and we learn and that's why I love this community. Great, sound advice and people who love snakes just as much as I do willing to help.

Thank you again.

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Originally Posted by Melicious

He's a bush-baby. THAT was my big mistake, I think.

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As Adam stated - not necessarily. Six of my seven are definite bush-babies and are doing great! Only one had internal parasites when I got him which were immediately addressed and treated and now he's doing fine. The seventh was a surrendered adult to the pet store and probably was also a bush-baby - as pet stores seem to get most of theirs from the import trade and I imagine that the previous owner "probably" got her from a pet store when she was a baby.

I plan to pick up five more '06 bush-babies in the next month or two. It's just important to know your dealer's reputation. The five that I recently got were all declared perfectly healthy by my vet and are voracious eaters. Mine were probably born in March/April last year and range from 220 grams to almost 400 grams. I'll be purchasing the remaining five

And my boy that's still at Adam's born July 4th was 350 grams last week. :banana:

I think I overreacted and he's doing well. More than well. He's aggressive, he's got a nasty temper right not because he's adjusting, and he eats like any other kid would.

I'll be taking him to the vet some time next week so I'll just have a professional double-check what I'm hoping to be what your advice suggested. He's probably very healthy and as long as the vet doesn't stick his/her hands near his head, they'll be fine too!