New very small female

[Flagg]

I own corn snakes and just recently got my first ball python, a female hatchling from a local reptile/animal show.

I asked the breeder about what he fed her and whether she was eating, but didn't get enough details about when she was hatched, how often she was fed, etc.

On further reading here it seems that she is excessively small. When I got her 3 weeks ago she was 74g, now after 2 feedings she weighed in today at 91g, 72 hrs after her last feeding.

So I guess my question is, is this size normal for hatchlings? How much do they generally weigh when newly hatched? How late in the year can BPs still hatch?

She doesn't appear malnourished to me, just very small but seems healthy. Of course I am not experienced with Ball Pythons either.

What size prey should I be feeding her? I raise ASF rats so I've fed her live young ASFRs, 15g and 18g. I didn't notice much of a lump later so next week I was going to up it to 20g or so.

[adi]

well i beleive that is a wee bit small for a bp. there is no estimate wieght for when they hatch but typically they can be form 100-150 grams. i suggest feeding him/her a mousy that just started growing hair (a hopper i beleive?) if im wrong someone please correct me.

[Flagg]

Hmm...well I'll have to see if the breeder is at the next show and ask him when they were hatched. I was looking at the for sale forum and found some 07's hatched in February that were in the 80 and 90 gram range, so I don't feel quite as worried...

Regardless, she's eating regularly now and has the proper environment so should be filling out quickly I hope.

[SarahMB]

I don't think she sounds horribly small, but I'm definitely no expert! I agree with you, sounds like she's eating and growing, so nothing to worry about

[muddoc]

I would say that if she was recently hatched, she sounds about the right size. The majority of my hatchlings last year weighed between 55 and 90 grams each. If she is 3 to 4 months old, I would say that she could have been fed better, but shouldn't have any negative effects. Just feed her good and she'll grow for you.

[Flagg]

Thanks for the replies. I'll have to check with the breeder at the next show if he is there, and see what other info I can get.

she ate again today, another smallish 15g but that's the closest size I had available. The others were like 24g which I fear might be too big a jump in size.

The first 2 feedings she took her time, this time she struck within a couple minutes, which was gratifying to see. Finally a good feeding response.

Now if she would just get used to handling. I've started daily (when not digesting) handling... taking it slow, right now I just put her in my hand and let her sit there and hopefully she will eventually uncurl and explore around. I've been doing this for 10 minutes then putting her back in her tub for the day.

3 days now and no progress yet. Still curled up in a ball all the time. I hope I don't have a permanently timid ball python.

[rabernet]

Fifteen grams is about right for a girl her size. She should be fine!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I own corn snakes and just recently got my first ball python, a female hatchling from a local reptile/animal show.

I asked the breeder about what he fed her and whether she was eating, but didn't get enough details about when she was hatched, how often she was fed, etc.

On further reading here it seems that she is excessively small. When I got her 3 weeks ago she was 74g, now after 2 feedings she weighed in today at 91g, 72 hrs after her last feeding.

So I guess my question is, is this size normal for hatchlings? How much do they generally weigh when newly hatched? How late in the year can BPs still hatch?

She doesn't appear malnourished to me, just very small but seems healthy. Of course I am not experienced with Ball Pythons either.

What size prey should I be feeding her? I raise ASF rats so I've fed her live young ASFRs, 15g and 18g. I didn't notice much of a lump later so next week I was going to up it to 20g or so.

I always feed a prey slightly smaller then the girth size once a week and last year when I bought a male that was 70 grams and I was feeding him small mice (weanling) that were about 15 - 19 grams.

Hope this help.

[Flagg]

Yes that helps, thanks.
Good to know that I guessed right, I've been feeding her African soft furred rats in exactly that weight range.

Only the best natural indigenous prey for my royal python. =)

(Actually they're the only rodents I breed any more)