Metric stuff and weighing Ball Pythons

[EyeLashViper]

:wink: Okay, I will admit that I am not really a metric person but I have heard several of you making references to your BPs weight in grams which is throwing me.Do I need to purchase a metric scale of some sorts to accurately and professionally weigh my snakes to keep track of their growth? just for a yardstick, what is a typical adult weight of an adult Ball Python in grams? what would it equate to in pounds and ounces?

I am sorry to ask such a boner question but I have been wondering just how heavy my BPs are anyway since I believe that I had an unintentional breeding and have been thrust deeper into the hobby whether I liked it or not...

I appreciate all you input .....

EyeLashViper

[JLC]

I can't help out with scales because I don't have one. But I can tell you that people try to wait until their females are about 1500 grams at a minimum before breeding them. Any smaller and they have a higher risk of complications. 1500 grams is equal to 3.3 pounds. Hope that helps some!

[emroul]

Don't worry about your questions, they are perfectly logical. As goes a metric scale, most scales these days have a button for measuring in grams or pounds/ounces. I do know that one pound=448 grams.

About the adult weight of a ball python, it all depends. Some people say an adult is 1,000 grams. This may not always be true. If someone power feeds, they could reach 1,000 in their first year. On the other hand, a 10 year old ball python could weigh 1,000 grams (It would be a neglected ball python in most likely poor health). (1,000 grams=2.2 pounds).

As far as breeding goes, the female should weigh more than 1,500 grams, the male more than 500 grams.

Jennifer