Slow growers

[starmom]

McKinsey, I think you will find with time, more experience and a larger collection that almost nothing is absolutely cut in stone with these snakes or how people choose to keep them. While somethings can be taken as a given, and usually the best way for a newcomer to deal with learning to care for their snake - very few things in my experience thus far are if you do X - Y will absolutely happen absolutely everytime.

I feed young snakes as well every 5 days until they reach a certain weight or whenever I believe that specific snake is ready to go to every 7 days. That does work out to twice a calendar week on some weeks so a bit of clarification is required there I think. Tim has a lot of experience with a lot of snakes, his advice is based on that wealth of hands on experience.

To the OP, you've hopefully learned from this thread is that there is more than one feeding routine choice. What every choice though shares in common is that none of them push a snake to eat to the point of excess or to trigger a regurge or a fast. None of the people posting are pushing their snakes to grow up fast - just to grow naturally with good health based on a well thought out feeding plan for that snake.

Jo, I agree! I also have learned that on this site (and it may have Judy who said this) that it is best with someone who has JUST purchased their snake to give them the basic tried and true husbandry advice so that they can have the very best results from the starting line. This is what I was attempting to do; apparently with poor results. However, I did my best in the moment of the action.

I fully realize that books and research papers that I have and have read are only the jumping off place when it comes to dealing with issues 'real time'. I also fully realize that I have only 13 ball pythons and that does not compare, and will never compare, to a keeper having hundreds. However, even caring for one ball python ought to allow for an exchange of information and knowledge and experience. I am thankful that on this forum it does.

I also fully realize that there are so many different methodologies one can employ to keep these snakes successfully; from environments to feeding to breeding; I think that John (Jas) was a really good teacher for that. However, and again, we've been asked to give the tried and true methods to a new snake keeper who is also new to ball pythons.

As for Tim's response, it was explanatory and thoughtful and I completely understood what he was saying. I appreciate discussion with an exchange of information and void of harsh stances and emotional and belittling outbursts. I felt that Tim's response was excellent and certainly followed implied rules of intellectual discussion and sharing.

As for Variable 1 leading always to Variable 2, I am fully aware of that fallacy. I have had experiences with my own snakes that back that folly up But again, a new owner stating impatience of growth rate and wanting to know if it's okay to feed 2x a week suggests power feeding to me and that can lead to disastrous results with keepers who have just gotten their very first snake. Again, I was trying to follow the rules for advice to new snake keepers.

I really don't know what more to say. I guess I will just end this with the assurance that I always always always try my hardest to give the best possible advice to new snake owners and I keep it on a tried and true basis. I also always always always listen to the advice and discussions of the more advanced herpers on this forum. From that point, I distill the information, learn from my snakes, employ independent thought, and go forward...

[jglass38]

Jo, I agree! I also have learned that on this site (and it may have Judy who said this) that it is best with someone who has JUST purchased their snake to give them the basic tried and true husbandry advice so that they can have the very best results from the starting line. This is what I was attempting to do; apparently with poor results. However, I did my best in the moment of the action.

I fully realize that books and research papers that I have and have read are only the jumping off place when it comes to dealing with issues 'real time'. I also fully realize that I have only 13 ball pythons and that does not compare, and will never compare, to a keeper having hundreds. However, even caring for one ball python ought to allow for an exchange of information and knowledge and experience. I am thankful that on this forum it does.

I also fully realize that there are so many different methodologies one can employ to keep these snakes successfully; from environments to feeding to breeding; I think that John (Jas) was a really good teacher for that. However, and again, we've been asked to give the tried and true methods to a new snake keeper who is also new to ball pythons.

As for Tim's response, it was explanatory and thoughtful and I completely understood what he was saying. I appreciate discussion with an exchange of information and void of harsh stances and emotional and belittling outbursts. I felt that Tim's response was excellent and certainly followed implied rules of intellectual discussion and sharing.

As for Variable 1 leading always to Variable 2, I am fully aware of that fallacy. I have had experiences with my own snakes that back that folly up But again, a new owner stating impatience of growth rate and wanting to know if it's okay to feed 2x a week suggests power feeding to me and that can lead to disastrous results with keepers who have just gotten their very first snake. Again, I was trying to follow the rules for advice to new snake keepers.

I really don't know what more to say. I guess I will just end this with the assurance that I always always always try my hardest to give the best possible advice to new snake owners and I keep it on a tried and true basis. I also always always always listen to the advice and discussions of the more advanced herpers on this forum. From that point, I distill the information, learn from my snakes, employ independent thought, and go forward...

Maybe sometimes it's better to just sit back and let others with hands on experience with a larger number of animals give advice rather than regurgitating information from a book you've read. Give advice when you have personal experience on the subject. That's how everyone learns and grows.