Recommendations for Length Measurement?

[Vysathi]

So... I had my BRB out, and grabbed some string to try measuring how long he is. For the first time since I have had him, he got really nippy. Nailed my middle finger and then my fore finger on my right hand. Just little thumps-not 'real' strikes. My best guess is that he didn't like the feeling of the string; it probably tickled or was at least a very different feeling.

Does anyone have suggestions on how I could get a reasonably accurate measure of my snake's length?

And no, I still haven't come up with a name I like... if you have suggestions for me to consider, I'd be open to thinking on them. =D

[jpsteele80]

Get something you know the length of like 1 inch square tiles and lay them out and try to have him/her crawl next to the object and measure it that way

[Vysathi]

That. Is. A. Fantastic. Idea! Especially since snakes like to scrunch up against stuff. I'll try that tomorrow before a feed him.
=D
Thanks JP!

[jpsteele80]

I used to use that method all the time :D

[Dan84]

Take a picture of your snake next to a known measurement, like a piece of 8.5x11 paper, and go to serpwidgets.com to use their measuring tool.

[Snakesitter]

^^ That's the industry standard approach...at least so much as we have one. Let us know how it goes!

[pdomensis]

Serpwidgets works well for me, but there is some margin of error involved. Way better than the string method.

[JinxtheBP]

I used to use a really neat snake measuring tool. You downloaded it to your computer and then took a photo of your snake next to an object for size reference, then uploaded the picture into it. You would then trace the shape of the snake from nose to tail and it would tell you how long it was, based on the measurement indicated in the picture. I'm going to have to see if I can find it again! I'd like to use it myself...Hmmm...

[franks]

The only way I found to measure my snakes with accuracy and consistency is to measure the sheds. They can be a little elastic but as long as you do not stretch it you can chart your snakes growth pretty well.

[Brylee1233]

^^That is what I do too

[JinxtheBP]

Here you go! Here's a website version! Serpwidgets - Snake Measurer (http://serpwidgets.com/main/measure) It works really well. You just need to upload an image of your animal's full body with an item that you can easily measure for a specific unit size, like a ruler. Then you set the length of the ruler and click along the snake's body to trace its shape. It converts your units into the full length of the snake ;) Pretty handy!

[Snakesitter]

Franks, the problem with using sheds is that they are already stretched, just through the effects of the shed process itself. Measuring sheds will consistently over-estimate the snake. SerpWidgets is more accurate, easier, and faster, too.

[Stewjoe]

My Bredli Jag's sheds are 3' longer than him. It's in no way accurate. I just use string.

[franks]

Franks, the problem with using sheds is that they are already stretched, just through the effects of the shed process itself. Measuring sheds will consistently over-estimate the snake. SerpWidgets is more accurate, easier, and faster, too.

Thanks. Good to know. I felt like my measurements were somewhat accurate but obviously I could not even justify that. I'll try the link you sent me and see how close I got.

[Snakesitter]

Link was posted by Jinx, actually -- I was just giving supporting reasons.

Please let us know how the new method compares!