Is he possibly dwarf, or just a smaller male?

[Teal]

I know size can vary, based on a lot of factors like genetics and feeding... but I am wondering what different sizes are people's adult males?

My male, Manny, has only been with me since last September so I really don't have a solid idea of how he was brought up. I was told when I bought him that he was 3.5-4 years old, and 10 feet long. I haven't been able to truly accurately measure him, but my attempts have given figures not far off that base for length. I did weigh him today, and he is 15.1 pounds.

Does Manny fall within the range of "normal" adult male size? Everything I am reading says that 10 feet is a dwarf length, whereas normal males average 12-14 feet? And while he doesn't look visually thin anymore (I wasn't able to weigh him when he wasn't eating for months, but he definitely dropped some weight that he has now put back on)... I just feel like that's such a low weight compared to other figure I've heard.

His size is not an issue to me, as long as he's healthy... I'm really just curious (: I have considered breeding him eventually, but we'll see if that venture ever comes to be.

[lukesreptiles]

I'm thinking he was just not cared for properly, and it has stunted his growth a bit. He does not look like he has any dwarf in him to me, but then again im not a professional :) Here is a pic of my normal double het Anthrax, Albino male at 4 years old.. 13 feet and 40lbs and he's a bit thin.

[Teal]

Thank you for your reply... your boy is gorgeous!

At this age, is there still more growing to be done or should I expect him to have topped out in size?

I've heard a few people say a snake doesn't look to have any dwarf... I'm curious, are there particular markers/things to look for that would indicate any percentage of dwarf blood? It's always nice to learn more about these gorgeous creatures (:

[Tsubaki]

They often grow in length up to about 4 years, then they usually start gain width. :)

[lukesreptiles]

He could grow some more, Mostly in girth at this point however if he's fed well "a bunny every 10 days" he could put on some more length.. If you do feed on the heavier side, just keep an eye on his weight. If he starts to just keep getting thicker, but not grow in length feed every 14 days. As far as the dwarf thing go's, just look at lots of pic's of dwarfs the more you see, the more you can see the clear pattern differences..

[Tsubaki]

Thats one hefty feeding schedule for a 4 year old male retic?.. I would never recommend hefty feeding to force an animal to grow in length. Very unhealthy. He could easily be a dwarf or a dwarf mix, and then 10 feet isn't an odd size at all for a male of that age. 11 / 12ish feet is what most my male dwarfs were.

[Teal]

Thanks for the replies!

Right now, he is on an adult Guinea pig (he won't eat anything else) every few weeks but that might slow down now that he's gained back the weight he lost over winter. I don't mind if he stays this size... I just want him to be happy and healthy (:

[Tsubaki]

glad to hear that! nothing wrong with a 10 foot retic, still a nice big snake. Just slightly easier to house and handle :D Not that i don't love the giants, they both have their charm!

[Teal]

He's my first experience with large snakes, so I'm not complaining (: He has been a wonderful introduction, as he is very sweet.. But has also shown me that one person getting a 10 foot snake into a pillowcase isn't the quickest procedure LOL

[jpsteele80]

Sounds like stunted growth, when I had my retic she was 9.5 in her first year and that's with moderate feeding, I'm sure if I would have let her eat as much as she wanted I could have gotten another foot out of her. As long as he is healthy he will just be a little shorter is all, nothing wrong with that at all just gives him more character and as stated above easier to house and handle. Not easy dragging around and 18 footer that weighs 140 to 150 pounds

[Teal]

Thanks! It makes me sad to think he wasn't fed properly as a youngster... But he's healthy otherwise, so I am thankful for that!

[Tsubaki]

He could just be a dwarf fed at a normal slow pace? I don't see why he apparently has to have stunted growth just because he is a slightly smaller specimen..? My adult bali male was around the same size as him when he was 4 years old.. And he surely did not have stunted growth.

'when I had my retic she was 9.5 in her first year and that's with moderate feeding'
Obviously female, and obviously mainland. 2 very big difference to this animal. Also, even for a mainland, that is growth accomplished by a pretty heavy feeding schedule. Either that or you have an exceptionally growing animal. A slow feeding schedule is once in every 10 or so days, and a heavy feeding schedule is every 5 days. I think the animal you were referring to was fed more closely to the latter?- Mine me though! Not saying its a bad thing at all, just saying that a 9,5 foot retic thats one year old is not exactly a prime example of moderate or slow feeding.:o

[jpsteele80]

Tsubaki is absolutely right, he may very well just be a dwarf and nothing is wrong

[Sublimeballs]

If you post a good pic of the scales on his head a scale cou t will determine any dwarf lineage.

[Teal]

If you post a good pic of the scales on his head a scale cou t will determine any dwarf lineage.

Really? I've not heard that! That would be awesome. Is it dependent on the big scales infront of of his eyes on his nose, or the plethora of little scales behind his eyes? Or both?

[Sublimeballs]

It's all the scales between the labial scales and the eyes. Get a pic and ill tell you what you have.

[Teal]

I will do that when I get home in a few days.. Thank you!