Question On Bringing Juvenile Up to "Ideal" Weight

[Chief Underverse]

Hi Everone!

We received my son's female BP in May and the breeder (XYZ Reptiles) said she was hatched Aug 21. When she arrived she was only around 150g and her weight was a concern given her stated age. I have been feeding her every 7 days around 10-15% of her weight (live mice and FT rats when she will take them). She is now approximately 1 year old but only 363g (as of this week).

My question is: some internet info recommends to continue feeding at this level until the BP reaches average weight (500g or so) but she is beginning to show signs of being slightly overweight. For instance, her tail area has a slight bulge rather than a taper and she has very slight skin rolls when curved. She still shows her spine but with less of a pronounced "V".

Should I keep feeding her on the same schedule until she gets closer to optimal weight or extend her feeding to every 10 days or so? Is she just a small snake for the breed?

I will post pics tomorrow for reference.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

[Bogertophis]

I think we need some pictures to go with this question.

[Homebody]

We received my son's female BP in May and the breeder (XYZ Reptiles) said she was hatched Aug 21. When she arrived she was only around 150g and her weight was a concern given her stated age. I have been feeding her every 7 days around 10-15% of her weight (live mice and FT rats when she will take them). She is now approximately 1 year old but only 363g (as of this week).

My question is: some internet info recommends to continue feeding at this level until the BP reaches average weight (500g or so) but she is beginning to show signs of being slightly overweight. For instance, her tail area has a slight bulge rather than a taper and she has very slight skin rolls when curved. She still shows her spine but with less of a pronounced "V".

Should I keep feeding her on the same schedule until she gets closer to optimal weight or extend her feeding to every 10 days or so? Is she just a small snake for the breed?

I think the best way to judge whether your snake is a healthy weight is by its body condition. A snake with fat rolls and a bulge before its cloaca is overweight. You should use smaller feeders or feed less often.

[Bogertophis]

[plateOfFlan]

Pictures would help a lot!
My first snake was a very small runty twin so I feel your pain - it's super confusing when every feeding chart doesn't match up to what your snake actually weighs. My boy weighed around 230g at a year old, he wasn't skinny or anything, just small. He also can be a picky eater and likes to fast all winter which wasn't helping. I really wanted to try to rush him and stuff food into him to get him to "normal" size but as you've seen, rushing them just makes them chubby, and it's not good for their health. He turned 2 years old this year and I stopped weighing him after he hit 550g but he's perfectly normal size and weight now, he just needed to get there in his own time. Your girl will get there too - just remember her "ideal" weight may not be the normal "ideal" for awhile until her body catches up - I think they can only grow bone and length so fast.

[Chief Underverse]

Finally got around to uploaded some pics. Sorry about the quality, I can't figure out the best way to upload them on the server. Thanks for all the replies so far! I have gone to 10 day feedings with med. live mouse and hope to get her on F/T weened rats in the next few weeks.

[Homebody]

Finally got around to uploaded some pics. Sorry about the quality, I can't figure out the best way to upload them on the server. Thanks for all the replies so far! I have gone to 10 day feedings with med. live mouse and hope to get her on F/T weened rats in the next few weeks.

I agree with you that she's a little overweight. I think extending to 10 days between feedings would do her good.

[Chief Underverse]

Thanks plateOfFlan for the encouraging words! I have been worrying about Izabella's weight since she came home and I have learned to accept she doesn't match the "average" weight charts. Hindsight leads me to select another breeder rather than XYZ reptiles in the future since they didn't provide more info on our purchase regarding her weight and size compared to the average standards.

[Bogertophis]

I think she looks a little underweight if anything, but I agree with plateOfFlan that she's probably just at an awkward phase of growth- they keep getting a bit longer so her width (weight) hasn't caught up yet. Not every snake grows at exactly the same pace- don't lose sleep over it, & remember they're healthier if they're a little underweight as opposed to being a little overweight.