Is it possible for a ball python to grow too fast?

[mangopixie]

I'm just curious, not necessarily worried or anything. My ball has gained about 100g in the last two weeks, and 50g in the two weeks before that. I was just curious if they could grow too fast because my previous experience is with chameleons and they run the risk of putting on too much weight for their bones to handle as they grow.

[angllady2]

If it is a baby, not really.

Babies eat a lot and grow really fast. Then as they hit their "teens" they slow down growth and back off eating so much.

It seems to be fairly difficult to feed a ball too much, unless you are forcing it to eat more than it would take on it's own. Although I've had a few that I am convinced would eat until they burst if I let them. Both were neglected and obviously starving when I took them in.

But under normal circumstances, I don't think so.

Also unless you are weighing right after a poo, you are counting a bit off food weight in there as well.

Gale

[AK907]

How much does your ball weigh? From what information you've given I'm betting you will find a nice big, brown surprise soon that might explain the excess weight. That said, 50-100 gram weight gain a month is normal. Adult females that are bulking up for breeding season can pack on considerably more than that a month.

[Trackstrong83]

How much does your ball weigh? From what information you've given I'm betting you will find a nice big, brown surprise soon that might explain the excess weight. That said, 50-100 gram weight gain a month is normal. Adult females that are bulking up for breeding season can pack on considerably more than that a month.

Yupp, weighed my little girl in at 190 grams, the next day...she was 172. Let's say I had some cleaning up to do. Lol

[Royal Hijinx]

My >800g Black Pewter dropped 110g after a poop. It was crazy. I thought my dog pooped in the tub

[mangopixie]

My >800g Black Pewter dropped 110g after a poop. It was crazy. I thought my dog pooped in the tub

Are you serious? OMG that is crazy!

My ball weighs 775g right now, and after looking at my calendar again properly I see she's actually gained 260g in two weeks, not 100. But it's also been two weeks since she's pooped.

[AK907]

Yupp, weighed my little girl in at 190 grams, the next day...she was 172. Let's say I had some cleaning up to do. Lol

We always weigh after they poop. After shedding is the best time I think because you can be assured they are completely empty, so your weights will be the most accurate.

[mangopixie]

I weigh after pooping too, but she doesn't poop very often and I'm so impatient so I end up weighing her several times between poops too. But like I originally posted, really I was just curious if it was dangerous for BPs to put on too much weight too fast like it is for chameleons. And as far as I can tell it's no big deal.