Growing Years?

[SmoothScales]

Like humans, do BPs have a prime growing phase in their life? It is my understanding - and correct me if I'm wrong - that they will continue to grow throughout their lifetime, albeit at a slower rate once they hit a certain point. Is that point related to their age, or their size? I can't find any references to a version of an epiphyseal plate - which makes sense because they don't have long bones - but do they have a similar type of growth plate that once a 'prime growing' age has passed slows their growth?

Specific example - I know someone who has a female cinnamon that is 2 years old. She's got some really great coloring and some weird blushing that almost looks like a peach color. I'd really like to get her, but the problem is she's only 350ish grams. Super small! Supposedly, the cinny had been sold to someone who didn't properly care for/feed her and was eventually returned. She's thriving, doing well, and while small doesn't look skinny. She could probably pass off as a 3-4 month old snake based off of her size. I'm wondering if she's nearing or has already passed any sort of window that she would've gotten the bulk of her growing done and will never reach normal adult size, or if she could still reach a healthy size for breeding.


[The more I think about it, the less I like the idea of a 'project snake', but still want to know an answer. lol]​

[Stewart_Reptiles]

While in general by age 3 you get a good idea one how big an individual will be they do keep growing after that.

In your specific case that animal will keep growing and catch up eventually even if it takes a little longer, I have had small animals in the past that remain small due to poor feeding habit for the first 3 years of their life and than took of to be within normal range.

Now the question is how long will it take her to be up to breeding size someday? That is the million dollars question really.

I have a female that was maintenance fed when I purchased her, at a year she was barely 245 grams, I tried to change that by feeding her appropriately but her feeding became very sporadic, by age 4 she was barely 1100 grams so she was growing but very slowly and her feedings were still a hit and miss. I decided to breed her anyway even though I prefer to breed bigger females. My thoughts were that she might never get that big anyway and that breeding might trigger her metabolism. She gave me 6 good eggs and after laying she become a consistent feeder and is now within normal weight range and most importantly has a good body shape.

So it took 5 years to get there and a leap of faith that breeding would trigger something in her but eventually she got there.

Keep in mind that years ago people used to recommend 3 years of age as a minimum for breeding now we tend to recommend younger and smaller as years go by.

The bottom line is that yes she will get there, when no one knows.

My main concern would be to know if she is currently a good feeder.

[JodanOrNoDan]

I have a two year old girl that was also maintenance fed she was right around 350 at two her eating habits were horrible. It took about six months to get her settled in. Now she is pounding rats like there is no tomorrow and her past three sheds have been between two and three weeks apart. She is in blue again now. She is catching up to where I would like her to be real quick.

I had another breeding age girl that just did not want to get "big enough to breed" I exposed her to a male and she is now eating like a champ and gaining weight fast. I have no worries now that she is going to be big enough if she goes.

Long story short. I wouldn't worry about it being small for its age just if it looks healthy. It will grow when it is time.