BP growing very slow??

[hazzaram]

I'm not really sure if this is normal or not. My 'girl' I got from Petsmart back in March seems to be growing really slowly. When I first got her, she weighed 160-165g and I weighed her today and she was at 269g. Is 100g in 7 months slow or normal?

She has no problems feeding and has never refused a meal. She sheds normally but only poops when she sheds. That 260g weight up there isn't empty so she probably weighs a little less than that. She's on rat pups and eats one weekly while the male bp I got a week before her in March is already up to weaned rats and has visibly grown.

When I first got her, we had a good battle with mites. We got through it and she seems really healthy and happy with proper temps. But I'm wondering if maybe she has parasites that are keeping her from growing properly?

I just want to get your opinion before I try and get her to a vet. It's going to be tricky because she doesn't poop often and the vet is 2+ hours away. I also don't drive so I'll have to convince someone to drive me, which means I can't just call them up randomly and ask if they'll take me to the vet because she has finished shedding and has decided to poop...

Any help is appreciated

[bcr229]

If she's eating, pooping, and shedding then she is fine. They all grow at different rates.

[Mittens]

I don't think thats something too much to worry about as long as your husbandry is good and that shes eating. However, I don't think anyone on here would be able to give you a solid answer as you know, their growth rates are varied. I know the vet is far for you but I think that would be your best bet. If she was showing signs of stress, it would be easier to tell why, but honestly she may be just a slow grower.

[hazzaram]

If she's eating, pooping, and shedding then she is fine. They all grow at different rates.

That's what I was thinking but I told someone and they said she's probably sick and has parasites. They made it seem like this huge deal and I was neglecting her by not taking her... But if she's doing everything she should be doing, I figured she was okay. Thanks

[Stewart_Reptiles]

The main question is how much are you feeding and how often?

What does the animal look like?

I really don't pay attention to numbers matter of fact I never weigh my own animals but I pay attention to general health and look.

[redshepherd]

100g in 7 months is quite little for eating weekly, but I think some photos of her in good lighting in a down shot would help! Maybe some side shots too, just in case.

[hazzaram]

She eats one 25-30g pup weekly. As far as how she looks, she seems pretty healthy to me. No loose skin, no visible spine... Here's some pics.













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[FranklinMorphs]

Have you tried moving her up a size of rat, or feeding her a little more often, say every 5 days instead of every 7. For a female, she is a bit on the skinny side, and her head is large for her body size. Picky eaters and slow growers happens, of course, but that doesn't mean you can't try to help her along. I'm definitely not worried by her appearance at all, she doesn't look malnourished at all.

[hazzaram]

Have you tried moving her up a size of rat, or feeding her a little more often, say every 5 days instead of every 7. For a female, she is a bit on the skinny side, and her head is large for her body size. Picky eaters and slow growers happens, of course, but that doesn't mean you can't try to help her along. I'm definitely not worried by her appearance at all, she doesn't look malnourished at all.

I posted before about moving her up a size and was told to keep her on pups. The next size up from the breeder, the weaned rats, are pretty big and I'm not sure she can handle them. Maybe if I get the weaned rats from the Petstore for her... They usually run smaller. I just don't want to push her to the next size until she's ready.

I want to add!!! I have no idea if she's actually a female. They said they thought she was but they weren't sure. I've just been going with it. I have no idea how to sex a snake and I'd be afraid to hurt her. There aren't any breeders in my small city so I can't get someone else to do it, either.

[Galaxygirl]

I posted before about moving her up a size and was told to keep her on pups. The next size up from the breeder, the weaned rats, are pretty big and I'm not sure she can handle them. Maybe if I get the weaned rats from the Petstore for her... They usually run smaller. I just don't want to push her to the next size until she's ready.

I want to add!!! I have no idea if she's actually a female. They said they thought she was but they weren't sure. I've just been going with it. I have no idea how to sex a snake and I'd be afraid to hurt her. There aren't any breeders in my small city so I can't get someone else to do it, either.

You could try feeding every 5 days instead. They're done digesting around day 3 I believe. We've raised all of ours on a 5 day schedule.