Weight questions

My adult male, he is just about 3 years old. Weighed in yesterday at 1061 grams. Is that a generally healthy weight for a bp of his age? He is just under 4 ft too, don't have an exact measurement. He has always been a really finicky eater. As a rescue I don't know much about his past before I got him but I think he was wild caught. He was also weighed empty too.


Kristy

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Originally Posted by Kristy

My adult male, he is just about 3 years old. Weighed in yesterday at 1061 grams. Is that a generally healthy weight for a bp of his age? He is just under 4 ft too, don't have an exact measurement. He has always been a really finicky eater. As a rescue I don't know much about his past before I got him but I think he was wild caught. He was also weighed empty too.


Kristy

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There really is no normal weight for a snake since all grow at different rates. As long as he is full and the back bone is not sticking out much, you are okay. Just sounds like you have a slender snake

Hes not real slender, hes actually pretty plump. He hasn't eaten since the beginning of November though. Never fails, like clock work, First week of November he stops eating, then about the last week of Feb, March he eats again. He still is very active during this time just refuses food. I reduce to offering every two weeks during this time so I don't stress him out. He just won't eat. I will be able to watch his weight though throught his feeding strike to make sure he isn't losing too much.
Kristy

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First week of November he stops eating, then about the last week of Feb, March he eats again.

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Ball pythons kept under optimal conditions will not "go off feed" during the winter, contrary to to widely believed myth about ball pythons.

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He still is very active during this time just refuses food.

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Ball pythons kept in less than ideal conditions will often be very active, constant roaming is a sign of stress.

Sounds like you need to check your husbandry. What is the temperature and humidity of his enclosure?

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

Ball pythons kept under optimal conditions will not "go off feed" during the winter, contrary to to widely believed myth about ball pythons.

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All my big females do! And a few males. Every year..

Temps are measured with a digital thermometer at the substrate

Warm side: 91
Cool side is 84
Humidity is 54%

I use an UTH on the warm side and a 60 watt infared bulb on the cool side to keep the ambient temps up.

He has a 40 gallon tank, water dish, two identical hides.

I have checked these many times wondering if it was something I was doing wrong. If there is something I am doing wrong please tell me, I will change it right away.

Kristy

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Originally Posted by JASBALLS

All my big females do! And a few males. Every year..

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Breeding is different....I was talking about pets....silly Jas....;)

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Originally Posted by Kristy

Temps are measured with a digital thermometer at the substrate

Warm side: 91
Cool side is 84
Humidity is 54%

I use an UTH on the warm side and a 60 watt infared bulb on the cool side to keep the ambient temps up.

He has a 40 gallon tank, water dish, two identical hides.

I have checked these many times wondering if it was something I was doing wrong. If there is something I am doing wrong please tell me, I will change it right away.

Kristy

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Personally, I would go with a tub system and ditch the tank(tanks being much harder to maintain temps/humidity without a lot of work). Are you using a thermostat to control the temps?

I know, I hate the tank. I have foil on the top taped down to keep in humidity. This time of year its DRY in the northwest. My husband and I actually went and were pricing out melamine and plexiglass last night. He is going to build him a new enclosure here within the next few weeks. I also keep 3 out of the four sides of the tank covered so the snake has more privacy.

I am using a thermostat, the repti temp 500 piece of junk, I have a ranco tstat on its way, will be here friday. Then I use a rheostat to control the light.

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Originally Posted by JASBALLS

All my big females do! And a few males. Every year..

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That's because they can smell those big bull males. :D :carrot:

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

That's because they can smell those big bull males. :D :carrot:

-adam

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Big? Males get over 1000g. I flush em! The feeding bill would be incredible lol.. Ax is going on a girl in a couple of weeks! 200g's baby!!

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Originally Posted by JASBALLS

Big? Males get over 1000g. I flush em! The feeding bill would be incredible lol.. Ax is going on a girl in a couple of weeks! 200g's baby!!

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You can use a 200 gram male for breeding??? Maybe I read that wrong or you meant he will go when he gains 200 more grams? Sorry I'm a bit confused. :confused:

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Originally Posted by Kristy

I know, I hate the tank. I have foil on the top taped down to keep in humidity. This time of year its DRY in the northwest. My husband and I actually went and were pricing out melamine and plexiglass last night. He is going to build him a new enclosure here within the next few weeks. I also keep 3 out of the four sides of the tank covered so the snake has more privacy.

I am using a thermostat, the repti temp 500 piece of junk, I have a ranco tstat on its way, will be here friday. Then I use a rheostat to control the light.

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Sounds like you are on a righteous path! Good luck with everything...and FWIT, a 4 y/o male going off feed, so long as everything else is spot in...is really no big deal.

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

Sounds like you are on a righteous path! Good luck with everything...and FWIT, a 4 y/o male going off feed, so long as everything else is spot in...is really no big deal.

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Ok Thanks :)

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

You can use a 200 gram male for breeding??? Maybe I read that wrong or you meant he will go when he gains 200 more grams? Sorry I'm a bit confused. :confused:

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I was wondering the same.

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Originally Posted by tmlowe5704

I was wondering the same.

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I've been known to start them alittle young is all..