Permanent stunting?

[Nikel]

So I got my first ball python almost two months ago from a rescue. He's currently six years old and only ~300 g and just over two feet long. After six years of underfeeding, is he likely to make up the missed growth or stay fairly small? Not that it matters either way to me, I just wanted other people's opinions on what growth I might see.

[Nikel]

This is Ramen by the way

[JodanOrNoDan]

6 years and 300 grams I am surprised he is alive. Tough little guy. Feed him rats on a good schedule, take good care of him and he should grow. I have never heard of one getting stunted.

[Pug50]

I have a 2-3 year old girl who came to me at 203g. After two months of weekly rats, she more than doubled in weight - 421g empty.

I dunno if they will ever be huge, but I have no doubt they can get to normal adult size no problem!

[Asherah]

Gertie came to us at 3 years old and just over 300 grams. With regular feeding she has gained roughly 1000 grams.
Your boy looks fine. While he is small he's not looking super skinny or boney. Put him on a regular feeding schedule and you'll likely see good results soon.

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[mlk06]

I also adopted a stunted BP. He is 7 years old and surely weighs <300 g. I don't remember how much the vet said for sure. Anyway, his previous owners didn't take very good care of him. He readily eats one large mouse weekly. I asked the vet if I should try to switch to rats and he said to just keep him on large mice. I feel like that is wrong. Opinions? The person I got him from says he's NEVER refused a meal, but I think it's because he's starving! He always acts to me like he's hungry. However, he remains extremely sweet and docile.

[bcr229]

I would convert him to frozen/thaw rats ASAP, it'll be easier to do now while he's hungry.

[Sonny1318]

1 frozen/ thawed Jumbo mouse every 6 to 7 days. Less your going to breed him.

[Willowy]

At 300 grams he could eat a rat pup or a large mouse, maybe a smaller weaned rat. If you feed him weekly he should gain weight quickly, and you can bump his rodent size up appropriately. If his last owners say they were feeding him a large mouse weekly they're either lying or he has a growth problem.

[wolfy-hound]

Definitely switch him to FT rats if you can. Start with small rats the same size as the mice he's eating now.