Weight Gain in Hatchling .....

[Albert Clark]

Hey community, listen I had a hatchling that hatched out 12/31/15. Healthy, feeding up until right after her third live hopper meal when she went into a shed cycle. I offered live hopper meals to her on three occasions pre and post shed and all were refused. This occurred between 2/7/16 and 2/17/16. On 2/18/16 which was post shed (shed was complete and full), Husbandry numbers are ambient 82f hot spot is 89f and humidity is 67%. She refused again on 2/18/16. I thought ok let me clutter up the tub and put in a smaller hide and leave her alone for about 4 or 5 days. On 2/23/16 she refused again so I decided to redo the tub again and put in a even tighter hide. Two nights later I offered her a live hopper and she took it. So I decided to offer a second live hopper and she took that also. Her weight on 2/7/16 was 101g. Her feedings after 2/25/16 was 2 hoppers every 5 days. I weighed her today and she weighs 188g. A 87g. weight gain in a little over 1 month!! Is that possible? Please let me know what you think. I am absolutely sure about the numbers and the time frames.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

So your feeding is as followed correct

02/25 Hopper x 2
03/1 Hopper x 2
03/06 Hopper x 2
03/11 Hopper x 2

Assuming they are 12 to 14 grams each that’s 96 to a 112 grams of prey and a weight gain of 87 grams I would think it’s pretty accurate.

With young animals (not all of course) I have witness weight gain up to 100 grams per month without pushing it.

[Caspian]

I'd say yes. My Super Pastel female went from 267g on 12/28 to 374g on 2/1. My Black Widow went from 260g on 12/16 (full of poop) to 362g on 1/10 to 495g on 2/20.. then had a big poop and went down to 471g on 3/4. I usually try to weigh once a month or so, whenever I catch them after a poop and before a feeding, though sometimes I just go through and weigh everyone. My Black Widow is currently on week three of not eating, because he won't take a rat and he's not being hurt by missing a few meals. My '14 Pastel Pied that showed up at 165g on 2/9 was 264g on 3/4.


(Edit - I'm not entirely sure that the Pastel Pied is a '14. That's what the breeder's ad said, but a BP that's over a year old and only 165g?!)

[Albert Clark]

So your feeding is as followed correct

02/25 Hopper x 2
03/1 Hopper x 2
03/06 Hopper x 2
03/11 Hopper x 2

Assuming they are 12 to 14 grams each that’s 96 to a 112 grams of prey and a weight gain of 87 grams I would think it’s pretty accurate.

With young animals (not all of course) I have witness weight gain up to 100 grams per month without pushing it.

Thanks Deborah, I didn't weigh the hoppers but I know they were well fed prior to being fed off. I will make sure to start doing that from now on. I just thought that was quite a bit of a weight gain. Secondly, I was trying to overcompensate for the missed feedings. Thought I may have overfed her when I got that weight on her today.

[Albert Clark]

I'd say yes. My Super Pastel female went from 267g on 12/28 to 374g on 2/1. My Black Widow went from 260g on 12/16 (full of poop) to 362g on 1/10 to 495g on 2/20.. then had a big poop and went down to 471g on 3/4. I usually try to weigh once a month or so, whenever I catch them after a poop and before a feeding, though sometimes I just go through and weigh everyone. My Black Widow is currently on week three of not eating, because he won't take a rat and he's not being hurt by missing a few meals. My '14 Pastel Pied that showed up at 165g on 2/9 was 264g on 3/4.


(Edit - I'm not entirely sure that the Pastel Pied is a '14. That's what the breeder's ad said, but a BP that's over a year old and only 165g?!)

Wow! For real? And yes she has not defecated once since 2/7/16. She has urinated and expressed some small urates. I guess she's holding on to that nutrition as long as she can. Thanks Cas!

[EL-Ziggy]

"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." - Arthur Conan

JK AL. I don't keep BPs anymore but like Deb and Caspian have said I've had snakes gain 100g in a month. My bulls and my coastal carpet have done this a few times.

[Magalo]

My BP was 135g on the first week of january and she weighted 185g today. Fed her 20-30g mouse every 5-7 days but she pooped a lot too. Seems a lot slower than yours.

[Kokorobosoi]

That next "deposit" is gonna be massive isn't it? Lol!!!

[Eric00]

I say pic or you don't really have her I might be saying that only because I like pictures..

[Albert Clark]

"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." - Arthur Conan

JK AL. I don't keep BPs anymore but like Deb and Caspian have said I've had snakes gain 100g in a month. My bulls and my coastal carpet have done this a few times.

Haha! That's ingenious EL. Thanks for all your support.

My BP was 135g on the first week of january and she weighted 185g today. Fed her 20-30g mouse every 5-7 days but she pooped a lot too. Seems a lot slower than yours.

Thanks Mag. Yeah but similar and once she defecates there will be a lower weight than 188g.

That next "deposit" is gonna be massive isn't it? Lol!!!

Lol. You know it Koko.i guess it was better to give her a little more seeing as she was starting to worry me after the second tub rearrangement. And when she refused the rat crawler!

I say pic or you don't really have her I might be saying that only because I like pictures..

Thanks Eric. She went to a new home right after the weigh in. Lol. That was cute though.