how can I find out how old my boy is

[akskeeper]

Ok I got my ball python a month ago and im trying to find away to figure out how old he is not sure if I can by length or what any ideas

[JLC]

If you can't get his specific history from the people you got him from, then anything else is just a guess. If you post up a picture with some object for size reference, some folks here can give you an educated guess, if it's still young. If it's already at its mature size, there's really no way to tell.

[iCandiBallPythons]

Pretty much impossible. Ive had bp's that are 1200 grams in the first year and seen others that were under fed at 300--400 grams at a year old

[Inarikins]

Or some that are almost 3 years old and are 500 grams but not for lack of offering food -grumbles- There's no way to tell for sure, but we can give a good guess just charting against an average growth rate. Obviously 1200 grams in the first year is not the average, but neither is 500 grams in 3 years.

[GeekAndDestroy]

but we can give a good guess just charting against an average growth rate.

is there any actual chart/graph of the averages? I would love to see some real world data.

[akskeeper]

Well I actually rescued him from a pet store he was extremly skinny the girl would not even come close to me when I got him out of the cage that he was in with 3 other bps 4 times his size so I got no info from them hey also said he had not ate for them but I dont hink hey even attempted couse after havin him for a week we tried for the first time(becouse we gave him a week to get comfortable) and he ate and has continued to eat every friday for us no prob and has grown about 3 in. in a month he is up to 1 foot 9 in now and I just posted new pics of him on my profile thanx guys

[Inarikins]

is there any actual chart/graph of the averages? I would love to see some real world data.

I haven't ever seen one put together, though that would be interesting to do. Generally going by body shape and weight experienced keepers can guess. If you can get a weight and some good pics of him next to items for scale, we can guess.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Pretty much impossible. Ive had bp's that are 1200 grams in the first year and seen others that were under fed at 300--400 grams at a year old

Same here though I have a couple holdbacks that were/are picky eaters, always offered a meal but they don't take every time.

[Pythonfriend]

i think the head should grow at a more constant rate compared to the rest of the body.

which means, if you give us length, weight, and some pictures that show the body proportions, then the size of the head in comparison to the body could lead to an educated guess. but that only works for relatively young BPs.

above a certain age, when its fully grown, there is no way to tell that i know of.