Congrats on your collection. I've never had an illness in a reptile either but i acheive this by doing due dilligence as an owner. I don't have a rheostat controlling my pets-thats guessing temperatures. So i dont guess my weights. Your legend of rats is what i use to write down...for the first month of owning a snake. After that I just wanted better paperwork and like to know whats going on, maybe thats me. Considering how much nicer snakes cost, how much feeders cost (my local stores are $4.70 each on sale)- why cheap out and not just pick up a $20 scale from sprawl mart or wherever. I dont have a 70 lb 70$ scale for big snakes but if owned any i would definately buy one, even if i only had 1 big snake...