General opinion about my bp...size,feeding, etc.

[TanyaL]

Ok, here is what I have…

Approx. 8mo normal female BP – Awesome girl!
326 grams and about 30” long
20gal long
Average 92 for the warm side, 83 for the cool side.
Humidity is kicking my butt but averages about 55% between sheds
UTH on the warm side, 60w night blub on the cool side
2 identical snug hides, water dish in the center
Substrate depends on what is available, either repti-bark or aspen
She just left a huge poop!
She HAD mites but thanks to PAM, she has been mite free for about a month, or more. She spends the majority of the time in her warm hide and I hardly see her out at all!
When I take her out, she moves about, does not strike, hiss or any other negative behavior, IMO. Overall she looks and acts healthy and happy. But, what do you think?
(I hope I didn't forget anything)

Here are my questions…
1. Does she sound thin? I’ve been feeding her large adult mice (25 – 30g) every 7 days. She won’t take them before 7 days and won’t take two at once. She is a 7-day, one serving feeder. Her feeding response is great!
2. Just yesterday, I offered her a small rat because the mice just didn’t seem like they were bit enough as far as her girth goes. The rat was 52 grams (YIKES) but was the same as her girth. Based on the suggested 10 – 15% of her body weight, is a small rat too much, maybe a tad smaller? She didn’t take it and that’s my problem! Could it have been because she is used to white mice and not black and white rats? Was it too big? What do you think? And, what can/should I do? It’s been 8 days since her last feeding if I’m not mistaken. I know shame on me! I should keep better track but I’ve got so much going on lately!
3. If a snake does not take the prey when offered, why should you wait until the next scheduled feeding before offering again? Just curious. Occasionally I will offered prey after 5 days and when she doesn’t take it, I offered again about two days later and she usually takes it. Am I wrong in doing this?
4. I’ve seen many pictures of younger BPs that have the ridge on their backs. Foster has it too. At what age/size would you expect them to round out? Or, should you not see a ridge at all? She is filled out on her sides, it’s just the ridge on her back that you can see.
5. As far as her pattern/markingsgoes…she does not have the alien eyes like most normal bps do. She has a few spots but none of them are side by side. I think in one area one black spot is above the other but even then she does not have a lot of ‘eyes’. The majority of her brown spots are clear. Does this make her a reduced, somewhat reduced or as normal as they come? Also, most of her brown spots connect from one side to the other. Does that mean anything?

I had other questions but they have escaped me, as usual. I’m sure I’ll think of them as I read your replies and comments. Please give me your honest opinion and advice. I don’t think I’m doing bad but I want to make sure that I’m doing everything right!


Here are pictures when we first got her. I'll get some new ones up ASAP. I thought I had them on my laptop but they are on my desktop computer.



http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...4/img_1612.jpg