How's her progress?

[JustMeNmySnakes]

Curious if my female retics making good weight gains.
On January 29 she weighed 302 grams.
Today she weighs 364 grams.
I know each owner has different expectations and how the snakes are fed, can determine a snakes growth. I'm feeding my girl a f/t rat every 4-6 days.
So, 62 grams in 19 days.
Is that a healthy amount of weight to put on for 19 days?
Thank you!

[JustMeNmySnakes]

No takers? I guess I should weigh her after she poops before her next meal for an accurate weight, but just wanted to see if 62 grams in 19 days. Let's say, 60 grams. Is that good for the time period?

[IW17]

Young Retics grow insanely fast. As long as it appears and acts healthy I wouldn't put much thought into a high growth rate.

[Sublimeballs]

What exactly is the back ground on your retic? I remember you saying SD, but I can't recall mention of locale or %.

[millertime89]

Pretty sure she's pure SD. That seems about right.

[JustMeNmySnakes]

I'm ashamed to say I don't know her locale and %. I went in blind and I honestly do wish I knew. I'd love to breed her one day with another dwarf or SD.
For now, I'm happy so long as she's healthy. Im trying to get with a local cabinet maker who's able to make my enclosures for considerably less than what I would've spent on materials and he's making them with cabinet grade 3/4" ply. Complete builds minus the staining. It's a great deal and I asked him if I can stop by and snap pics or if he can periodically.
I can't wait to give her a new and better home.

[JustMeNmySnakes]

Well, I decided to wait till she pooped and yesterday, OMG, did she poop big. So I weighed her, and she weighed in at a whopping 372 grams, lol.
8 grams in 10 days after expelling her last meal or two. Seems decent.
I'm not worried about how fast she's gaining or trying to speed things up. I don't have a whole lot to do up here besides work and care for my critters. My SD Retic gives me something different to look forward to everyday. She likes being handled, at least she appears to enjoy it. Anyways, thanks for all your input and advice.
Aloha...

[ReticulatedGuy]

Hello!

A lean diet is always favorable. Yes, one could argue to power feeding at a young age but it should definitely be regulated. Simple body conditioning signs such as eyes (bulging or sunken), conformation (amount of fat and/or muscle in comparison to ribs), activity (active moving and tongue) and consistency of stools can be indicators of overall health. Psychological adaptations have yet to be fully understood by researchers and considering I'm currently doing university research on salamanders I won't be hitting that topic anytime soon.

Nutritive values have also very little data as the field of study is limited but hopefully that will change to allow proper management of our beloved reptiles. Hope this helped, take care!

[JustMeNmySnakes]

Well, she seems to be growing steadily. She weighed in today at 590 grams. She's grown almost a foot.
She's energetic, and her feeding response has changed dramatically. She would only eat the f/t rats off her hide, but I can't lay the rat down now without her meeting me half way and handling her business.
Till next time...

[EL Ziggy]

So where are the pics? ;)

[JustMeNmySnakes]

http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv81/smbolter/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1549.jpg

[JustMeNmySnakes]

http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv81/smbolter/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1543.jpg

[JustMeNmySnakes]

Sorry for the poor photos:unhappy::unhappy::(I'll post better ones soon..

[JustMeNmySnakes]

http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv81/smbolter/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1582.jpg

[Albert Clark]

Fantastic retic! A rat every 4 to 5 days sounds excessive to me. Maybe you should consider a larger rat over a 10 to 14 day interval? Just IMO. Good luck.

[amousley1]

I agree with Albert. We do weekly/bi weekly feedings based on their needs. Her health will tell you how she's doing better than keeping track of weight. As long as she's hydrated and and has a good appetite, all will be well. :-)

[millertime89]

Fantastic retic! A rat every 4 to 5 days sounds excessive to me. Maybe you should consider a larger rat over a 10 to 14 day interval? Just IMO. Good luck.

I agree with Albert. We do weekly/bi weekly feedings based on their needs. Her health will tell you how she's doing better than keeping track of weight. As long as she's hydrated and and has a good appetite, all will be well. :-)

Depending on the prey size it may be fine. I would feed 60-90 grams weekly at this age. If you feed smaller you can feed at that frequency, but you don't want to be feeding 90 gram prey every 4-5 days.

[JustMeNmySnakes]

Thank you all the advice, I seriously appreciate everything learned here.
I'd like to mention, the feeding intervals have been more like, between 6-12 days. I usually allow her to let me know when she's ready. I know that sounds rediculous, but when its time for a refill, she's pretty mobile and actively climbing when she sees me approach her enclosure. Otherwise, she just lays around, hangs on her branch like a GTP, or is in her hide. She usually goes the longest in between a feeding when she's in shed.

[JustMeNmySnakes]

I just read the label for the f/t rats and on the label is written the rats are 40 grams each.

[millertime89]

I would feed every 5-7 days at that weight honestly.

[JustMeNmySnakes]

Thank you. That's the biggest I can find. I'm going to measure one before I feed her next time.

[JustMeNmySnakes]

Weigh, I'm gonna weigh one before I feed her again.

[JustMeNmySnakes]

So, I've been feeding her small f/t 40 gram rats. It's all theyve got and the only place I've found rats and she swallows the small rat and shortly after looks like she's ready for another.
Is there any reason to believe I should consider a second small rat until I can find larger ones?

[JustMeNmySnakes]

The past two feedings, her response was great. Snatched the f/t 40gram rat from my hand. But these last two feedings she's acted different. Usually she's off in a corner like me after thanksgiving dinner, but now...she's engaging the glass where I'm at looking at me as if, IS THAT ALL I GET LOOK ON HER FACE. I can't seem to find larger f/t rats. Can I give her two. You can barely tell where the rat is after she's swallowed it.
Let me know please...

Thanks,
Atwater...

[dave himself]

Yes mate you can feed her 2 untill you find a supplier for bigger prey items

[JustMeNmySnakes]

Well. Been feeding her Jumbo rats for the last few feedings now. Was reluctant, but she handled them no problems. She's been growing quite a bit and getting more beautiful with each shed.

[JustMeNmySnakes]

Here's a pic a few months back.

[JustMeNmySnakes]

I guess you really can't see the difference. Sorry folks. She's healthy. That's what's important.

[JustMeNmySnakes]

I just checked since I've forgotten what the frozen rats weighed she's been eating. The Jumbos she's been on are 260 grams and I bought a few large as well which are 180 grams.
Thought I might throw her a large on occasion since their meals in the wild vary...