What's up with all the underfed snakes

[snakesRkewl]

This may not sit well with some, BUT, I'm astounded by how many 6 month old and older 200 gram snakes are for sale on Kingsnake and Fauna
When I ask for hatch dates and weights and consistently get responses of 6-7 months old and 200 grams it turns me off immediately.
So many ads state the year they were born and weights and then when you ask the month is turns out to be 7 months old and 200 some grams.

I've gotten responses on numerous clowns, albinos, super pastel yellow bellies and several others,
ALL underfed IMO. and all from large breeders.

What's up with that?
Would you buy a snake that's been underfed knowing you were going to be breeding it, especially a female?

Is 200 grams at 6 months old underfed? or am I just over-feeding all of mine because they eat every 5-7 days and get to 400 + grams in 6 months

Gotta love the catch phrase "well started" lol
As always..Caveat emptor...

[mrmertz]

I'm not a breeder but I would imagine that if one was a large breeder that would also mean raising your own food source, so so far as them not feeding them all that often (underfeeding) I'm stumped. It wouldn't be a money issue - (less capitol investment in a given animal means higher profit margins come sale time) that would only could come into play if they bought feeders like I do. I dunno. Anybody else?

[WingedWolfPsion]

I agree, it puts me off, too. I can't imagine why a breeder would be too cheap to feed a baby snake every week. And if they are feeding it weekly, then why is the baby so small? I would think that there was something wrong. Either way, I don't want to deal with that.

[cerastesruber]

yea thats weird, ill have snakes that gain 100g+ in about one month (not power-feeding)

[Oroborous]

I've noticed that both the snakes I've bought from reputable breeders were under weight and small for their ages. And both looked a lot more robust in their pics. They are doing well now and growing like weeds with regular meals. But I definitely think the breeders I bought them from could have given them a better start. I know they have lots of snakes to feed, but how many times can individual animals get overlooked? I don't think there's any excuse.

[Twisted Reptiles]

I've noticed the same thing.

When you're buying, ask if feed/shed/etc records are available. Doesn't matter how big the breeder is, they should be tracking this stuff, for the good of their customers and for the good of their animals.

[Elise.m]

Maybe ask if they're offering every 5 or 7 days. Could be underfeeding, or could be a problem eater.

[TessadasExotics]

Not all snakes will eat every week. We have 2 08 males that are under 300g. We have an 09 female that’s over 600g. So you can see there can be a big difference.
Some snakes just naturally have a healthier appetite. In the wild they will not be eating every week. Really they would only be eating once or twice a month.

And just because a snake doesn't eat every week, doesn't mean it's a problem feeder.

[wilomn]

How many snakes have you raised OP?

Have you determined that these undersized snakes are unhealthy or are they just smaller than you would like them to be?

If they're just too small, in your opinion, what do you base this opinion on?

If there are health issues, what have you done about that?

[snakesRkewl]

How many snakes have you raised OP?

30 to 40 from hatchlings to a year old.
Almost every one of them reached 400 grams at 6 months, the ones that didn't were obviously picky eaters.
I feed rats only except to hatchlings that start out on asf fuzzies.

Have you determined that these undersized snakes are unhealthy or are they just smaller than you would like them to be?

smaller than I'd like them to be
I'm speaking of animals on the market, not mine or any I bought.

If they're just too small, in your opinion, what do you base this opinion on?

On all the hobbyist that show off their snakes growth on here and many other sites as well, and with my limited knowledge of keeping them.

If there are health issues, what have you done about that?

I haven't had any health issues that needed a vet, but if I did I have a local Vet that isn't too far from me that deals with reptiles and has a fairly good rep for doing so.

This isn't only my opinion, just me asking, "what up with that?" on snakes weights that are on the market