A fecal should be part of all quarantine processes. Having tested multiple samples of feeders from 3 suppliers I know a great many feeders carry parasites and some of those are transferable.
If you suspect slow growth, it is time for the exam cheap and easy. It can head off many future problems. I have yearly samples done, and am very careful with the suppliers I buy from and that the prey items have been frozen for at the very least 30 hours.
Growth rates vary, temperature will effect growth rates too, there are many other variables, but the first step is to eliminate the easily tested variable. Call me crazy but guessing genetics and guessing food weigh gain ratios against a 'average' is crazy, eliminate what you can prove first then guess.
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