Getting some girl on weight till next year!

[Salingreptiles]

hi, i have 2 females which a bit small for they're age
one is a pastel female which is about 500 grams right now, and she's 1.5 years old
the 2nd one is an albino female which is about 400 grams, 1.2 yeard old
i want to get them as close as i can to 1500 grams untill next year season
i feed them once a week (though the pastel female doesn't always eat) with a small rat
do i need to change anything? feed twice a week or something?

Noam

[Annarose15]

What is the weight of the small rats? Typical definition of "small" is 50-80 grams, which should be plenty when fed weekly.

As a side note, how do do have them set up (cage sizes, hides, temps, etc.)? I ask because you mentioned some issues with the pastel being bitey in your other thread, which is abnormal for a BP.

Oh, and welcome to the site!

[BlueMoonExotics]

From information gathered from various places (including this site I'm sure), females can take up to 3 years to be ready to breed. I would focus more on keeping them healthy than getting them up to breeding weight right now. Feeding more than what they really need or want would be called power feeding and most people would frown upon that practice because it can cause issues for the animal and a shorter life span. Getting bigger faster doesn't always mean healthier. As long as they are healthy and eating well, I wouldn't try to push their weight at this point. They're still pretty young.

[Salingreptiles]

From information gathered from various places (including this site I'm sure), females can take up to 3 years to be ready to breed. I would focus more on keeping them healthy than getting them up to breeding weight right now. Feeding more than what they really need or want would be called power feeding and most people would frown upon that practice because it can cause issues for the animal and a shorter life span. Getting bigger faster doesn't always mean healthier. As long as they are healthy and eating well, I wouldn't try to push their weight at this point. They're still pretty young.

well i dont want to get them 50 cm and 1500 grams, cause that's just makes a fat snake, which i know it isnt healthy.
but i have for example a normal female which is about 1.8 years old and she's 1500 grams, should breed next year, and she's perfectly healthy and proportional
its just that the females are small for they're age, and i bought them like this

and the setup for these two is 45X30X10 cm tub, hot side with 32 C and cold side in room temp (about 27 C), a hide box and a water bowl. nothing too special
i know some ball pythons are a bit snappy when they are small, which the pastel female are exactly like this. i guess that when she'll grow she'll get less aggressive
thats the rack (but in this picture its with leopard geckos and not ball pythons)

[Annarose15]

If the albino and pastel were already small when you got them, then they should catch up with proper feeding (which you're giving them - one small once a week). That tub setup and temps should work perfectly. I'd be that if you held off weighing them for a couple of months, you'd be amazed at the dramatic amount of weight they'll probably put on.

I'm glad you specified that the pic is from when the leos were in there, or else I'm sure someone would have asked why you are trying to feed mealworms to your BPs!

[PitOnTheProwl]

they will grow when they do, I have a almost 3 year old that about 450g and a 9 month old that is pushing 1200g. Just part of the stress/fun of balls.

[grcforce327]

You can always try candy........... oops,I mean asf's. When they take a rat,right after they swallow it,throw in another. Don't worry about the animal "getting fat", FEEEEEEEEED ME!
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...51#post2088351

One more thing...... You are not getting the girl on the weight,you are getting the weight on the girl!

[Annarose15]

You can always try candy........... oops,I mean asf's. When they take a rat,right after they swallow it,throw in another. Don't worry about the animal "getting fat", FEEEEEEEEED ME!

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...51#post2088351

If the first rat is an appropriate size, feeding multiples will just result in wasted nutrients and bigger poops.

[BlueMoonExotics]

You can always try candy........... oops,I mean asf's. When they take a rat,right after they swallow it,throw in another. Don't worry about the animal "getting fat", FEEEEEEEEED ME!
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...51#post2088351

One more thing...... You are not getting the girl on the weight,you are getting the weight on the girl!

Lol this already sounds like a Hansel and Gretel story to me. I'm going to stick to my guns and say that unless they are looking thin, I wouldn't push their weight.

[Salingreptiles]

i got the albino one week ago and she is a bit thin, her previous owner fed her only mice and hamsters, but she's taking rats too!