Should my BP be bigger?

[scandan90]

Hello! So I'm new to the forum and new to snake keeping (not new to reptiles though). I got my first Ball Python in October last year. I was told that she's 2 years old. Since getting her, I feed her weekly (is that often enough?) and she always takes her food with no trouble whatsoever. She's apparently quite small for her age though. She weighs in at 350g. She doesn't look underweight, and she is perfectly normal in her behaviour. I'm just wondering if she's small for her age in regard to averages. I know they come in all sizes but I want to make sure she's ok more than anything else. As I said, she eats with no problem and she's on the right food, she's wonderfully docile and just awesome in general!

[JLC]

How reliable is the source that said she is two years old? And are you sure it's female? 350 grams is very small for a two year old ball python, but a male on maintenance feeding its whole life might be that small.

Also, you say she's "on the right food" but what does that mean? Feeding once per week is a standard practice, but the size of the prey is also very important.

[scandan90]

Hi, thanks for replying!
The source is questionable, buying the snake was almost a rescue mission. She knew nothing about humidity requirements and as far as I know, 2 snakes have a
lready died in her care. I trust her as far as age goes because she bought them herself and showed me correspondence regarding the purchase. I am going to take the snake to our exotics vet to get her sexed to make sure but she was bought to breed (by the original owner) but the male died in her care.

I have her on multimammate mice that are the same width as her widest point and she takes 2. When I got her she did look underfed, she was on tiny pinky rats, but she doesn't anymore. She's doubled in weight in the months that I've had her and is growing well in length too.
I will get her sexed and go from there. My concern is her current health and well being but I'm curious as to why she seems on the small side.

[Reinz]

Hi, thanks for replying!
The source is questionable, buying the snake was almost a rescue mission. She knew nothing about humidity requirements and as far as I know, 2 snakes have a
lready died in her care. I trust her as far as age goes because she bought them herself and showed me correspondence regarding the purchase. I am going to take the snake to our exotics vet to get her sexed to make sure but she was bought to breed (by the original owner) but the male died in her care.

I have her on multimammate mice that are the same width as her widest point and she takes 2. When I got her she did look underfed, she was on tiny pinky rats, but she doesn't anymore. She's doubled in weight in the months that I've had her and is growing well in length too.
I will get her sexed and go from there. My concern is her current health and well being but I'm curious as to why she seems on the small side.

Sounds like you answered your question and you really just needed reassurance.

I'm glad she's in your care now. Sounds like you are on the right track.

Welcome to the forum.

[JLC]

My concern is her current health and well being but I'm curious as to why she seems on the small side.

Seems to me that she's small because she was in seriously sub-adequate care before you got her. Being underfed and in a poor environment will lead to a very slow growth rate. Now that she's getting good care with a solid feeding regimen, she'll start growing...but it'll take time. I'm glad you got her out of that bad home and are giving her what she needs. Good luck with her!!

[scandan90]

Yeah, I think I did just need someone to say she's on the right track now!
Thanks

[LivingwithBalls]

I also have a small bp, but he's still growing as he is a hatchling. At 5-6 months, he's about 75 grams.


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[scandan90]

I also have a small bp, but he's still growing as he is a hatchling. At 5-6 months, he's about 75 grams.

Ah that is good to know. I'm researching as much as I can to try get a full picture of her background and obviously I just want her to be healthy