Ideal weight gain?

[WhompingWillow]

Hi everyone,

Our guy, Clark, is still young (hatched mid-to-late January). We picked him up at Tinley and so far he's had two meals. We're feeding every 5 days and I make sure to weigh his mouse first to make sure he's getting one 10-15% of his bodyweight. Here are Clark's weights so far:

3/17: 65 grams
3/23: 72 grams
3/28: 81 grams

Does this look like an ok rate of growth? He has not 💩 or shed yet. Is there a rate of weight gain/growth we should be aiming for? I feel a bit like I did when my kids were babies, lol.

Thanks!

[Sunnieskys]

Good gain. When he does poop he will lose to almost his last weight so keep that in mind. They go up and down in the beginning with poops. Looks good.

[fluffykitten]

It's crazy how much weight they sometimes loose just by going poo. Kind of makes me jealous.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Focus less on the weight and more on on the overall look and body proportions.

If you feed appropriately the animal is healthy and looks good then weight is just a number.

[Craiga 01453]

Focus less on the weight and more on on the overall look and body proportions.

If you feed appropriately the animal is healthy and looks good then weight is just a number.

^^^ exactly this ^^^

Weight will fluctuate a bit with each meal, each poop/pee, etc... focus on body proportion rather than weight. That being said, I do weigh my snakes regularly as well as keep other records of feedings, refusals, sheds, etc...I weigh them primarily to have records in case of food strikes, illness, etc... or reference in case of weight loss. I figure it can't hurt to have some helpful info for the vet, just in case.

[Alter-Echo]

Yeah, as long as the weight is going up, that's what matters.

[WhompingWillow]

Thanks guys. To me he looks a bit thin, but I'm wondering if that's because he's so young? I'm hoping with consistent 5-day feeds he plumps up a bit.

[Alter-Echo]

Even if he is skinny for his size, a 5 day feeding schedule will plump him up to where he needs to be... these guys are lucky to eat once a month in the wild and still manage to breed and thrive. Getting to eat once a week must seem like a Vegas all you can eat buffet to them. Lol

[Craiga 01453]

Thanks guys. To me he looks a bit thin, but I'm wondering if that's because he's so young? I'm hoping with consistent 5-day feeds he plumps up a bit.

They can go from looking skinny to looking plump pretty quickly. You'll get there in no time on a 5 day schedule.

[Bistem]

^^^ exactly this ^^^

That being said, I do weigh my snakes regularly as well as keep other records of feedings, refusals, sheds, etc...I weigh them primarily to have records in case of food strikes, illness, etc... or reference in case of weight loss. I figure it can't hurt to have some helpful info for the vet, just in case.

Im with ya there. I track all of the same things in Reptile Scan. It is kind of satisfying to be able to look back and see the progress. Most of my animals, I can make a reasonable guess as to when they will go into shed based on weight gain before they go into blue. I weigh every one of them every Saturday and feed every Sunday. Normally they all deficate on Thursday or Friday. Sometimes I feel crazy for noting all of this but I just like statistics and when I do breed, NO customer will lack for records if they want them. I will have it all from the beginning of that baby's parent's life.