Who has the oldest snake here?

[sattva]

I am trying to get an idea on growth rate... I know each snake is different and they grow their whole life, and get slower and slower as they get older...
I thought the people that have the oldest snakes might be able to enlighten us... Thanks in advance...

[Boots]

Well I guess I can start. My garter is about 5 years old now and as they can live to ~ 15 in captivity I doubt he would be the oldest.

Jason

[Tsubaki]

My oldest snake was 23+ he passed couple of years ago, he was mine for 16 of those years. Oldest snake i have now is probably Kira at 7 years old.

[Sublimeballs]

Current oldest 16 years old and going strong

[bigsnakegirl785]

My oldest is my ball python turning 10 in September. He's a very teeny guy, only 3'7", hasn't grown so much as half an inch since he was ~3 years old, according to a length I took a year or two ago. He's not very cooperative but he doesn't appear any larger. He's also thinned out due to having poor feeding habits since I made my first move in 2012 and I also feed him less. He used to quite chubby and overfed. In the past year, he's become a good feeder, though, only refused one meal so far and that's because I was feeding him medium rats while I was waiting for smalls.

[dave himself]

Our royal/ball python we've had him around 13 maybe more years, I'm shocking at dates and stuff like that :confused:

[Pareeeee]

My oldest, the Rosy Boa (Boaz) should be 8 years old by now (can't be 100% sure; he was purchased at a rescue/pet store that took in unwanted pets and they told me that his owners had told them he was 3 years old at the time).

[chairman]

My oldest snake is a 6 year old cornsnake. My oldest reptile is a 17 year old K. Homeana (tortoise).

[Aaron_S]

Eight years currently in my house.

I've had a few that were 13 - 16 who were still breeding.

They dramatically slow down around years 2 - 4 depending on species. Then it's like maybe half an inch or less a year.

[serpentgirl123]

My eldest (adult male boa) will be 16.5yrs old in a a few more weeks and going strong.

[sattva]

Eight years currently in my house.
I've had a few that were 13 - 16 who were still breeding.

They dramatically slow down around years 2 - 4 depending on species. Then it's like maybe half an inch or less a year.
Thanks guys! This is kind of what I was looking for... My retic is only 14 months and I am trying to keep him small, so his growth rate is about anybody's guess.
But my Carpet and Taiwanese beauty snake are both 7 years old and I was trying to gage their growth rate; So I guess I am looking at probably about a half an inch a year.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Thanks guys! This is kind of what I was looking for... My retic is only 14 months and I am trying to keep him small, so his growth rate is about anybody's guess.
But my Carpet and Taiwanese beauty snake are both 7 years old and I was trying to gage their growth rate; So I guess I am looking at probably about a half an inch a year.

You won't keep him small, he will eventually get as large as he was meant to, and feeding a snake in a way to try to keep them small is unethical. Conservative feeding is one thing, but don't underfeed them. Conservative feeding will slow their growth rate to close to natural levels but won't keep them small.

Depends. My ball python hasn't grown even half an inch, I'd wager not even a millimeter in 7-8 years, but my 5 year old boa grew 2" in less than 6 months after taking 1-2 years to grow 3 inches. I've seen another person with an older snake somewhere between 6 and 10 years that grew 2' in the matter of a couple years

[sattva]

You won't keep him small, he will eventually get as large as he was meant to, and feeding a snake in a way to try to keep them small is unethical. Conservative feeding is one thing, but don't underfeed them. Conservative feeding will slow their growth rate to close to natural levels but won't keep them small.

Depends. My ball python hasn't grown even half an inch, I'd wager not even a millimeter in 7-8 years, but my 5 year old boa grew 2" in less than 6 months after taking 1-2 years to grow 3 inches. I've seen another person with an older snake somewhere between 6 and 10 years that grew 2' in the matter of a couple years.
Hey bigsnakegirl Thanks for the info... I am new at this and I'll take all the advise I can get... According to the breeder I got George from, 50% of his size comes from genetics, and 50% from how you feed him... His Father was only 10 feet so that's kind of what I am hoping to keep George down to... I am watching his weight closely.. Thanks again!

[SnoopySnake]

Currently my oldest (confirmed) snakes are my rainbow boas, at just over 3 years old. My white lipped python is a WC import but is pretty much full grown at 6', so really not sure how old he is but I've had him for a year. It's possible he's older than my rainbow boas, but no way to tell. My oldest reptile was our green iguana, he was 10 years old when I had to rehome him over a year ago. As far as I know he's still around :)

[dannybgoode]

Hey bigsnakegirl Thanks for the info... I am new at this and I'll take all the advise I can get... According to the breeder I got George from, 50% of his size comes from genetics, and 50% from how you feed him...

It should be 100% generic and they should be fed properly. Imo this is terrible advice from the breeder...

[sattva]

It should be 100% generic and they should be fed properly. Imo this is terrible advice from the breeder...
This may be true, but you guy's are acting like I am starving the poor thing... I'm just not stuffing him, to see how big I can get him, like most people do! You've seen George... {This month's contest} Does he look underweight to you... ?
It would seem the opinions in this field very widely! You need to understand I love my guy's and they are not going hungry by any means... But I appreciate the advice...
I may have shot myself in the foot over this... I went and looked at his picture and he does look a little underweight... He is getting a small F/T rat every 7 days... So If I wanted to put some weight on him would I up the frequency or the size of the meal?

[Derek Roddy]

Size in captivity is solely based on food intake. There are many species in captivity that are grown to sizes they would never achieve in the bush.

D

[sattva]

Size in captivity is solely based on food intake. There are many species in captivity that are grown to sizes they would never achieve in the bush.

D

This was his point exactly... That you could keep it smaller by feeding it less... I want my guys to be healthy, but I am not trying to make them as big as I can eather... It would sure be nice if there were some sort of a chart or something to go by for newbies.

[dannybgoode]

I guess I phrased my last post a little clumsily.

I mean it is possible to have a snake attain a too big a size in captivity as well as too small. A snake that is fed as close to its natural intake of food will attain it's natural size.

Power feeding (inadvertently or purposefully) and having a too large a snake is as bad as under feeding in the hope of keeping a snake small. A snake should be fed as close to a natural regime as possible, that is all.

@Sattva-I wasn't having a dig at you simply answering your question. Apologies if it came across otherwise. I still think it's bad advice from the breeder though.

[sattva]

I guess I phrased my last post a little clumsily.

I mean it is possible to have a snake attain a too big a size in captivity as well as too small. A snake that is fed as close to its natural intake of food will attain it's natural size.

Power feeding (inadvertently or purposefully) and having a too large a snake is as bad as under feeding in the hope of keeping a snake small. A snake should be fed as close to a natural regime as possible, that is all.

@Sattva-I wasn't having a dig at you simply answering your question. Apologies if it came across otherwise. I still think it's bad advice from the breeder though.
No apology necessary... That's what I am here for, is to learn... I would hate to hurt one of my guy's over my vanity... So any positive feedback is much appreciated... So How much and how often would a retic in a jungle eat?

[dave himself]

Size in captivity is solely based on food intake. There are many species in captivity that are grown to sizes they would never achieve in the bush.

D

This was his point exactly... That you could keep it smaller by feeding it less... I want my guys to be healthy, but I am not trying to make them as big as I can eather... It would sure be nice if there were some sort of a chart or something to go by for newbies.

Please don't think I'm being cheeky here buddy but you do know that your snakes dad was 10ft because he was probably fed to be that size and it was nothing to do with genetics and that most retic breeders feed all their males to keep them small and with very good reason

[Roman]

My oldest snake was my male Taiwanese beauty snake (Orthriophis taeniurus frisei). When I got him in 1995 he was ca. 180 cm (6 ft) long, when he died 2014 he was ca. 240 cm (8 ft) long. So I had him 19 years and he was at least 2 and more probable 3 years old when I got him.

My first Californian king snake (Lampropeltis californiae) was about one year old when I got him and I had him for 18 years.

The oldest snake I currently keep is my male Pueblan milk snake (Lampropeltis polyzona, formerly known as Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli). I got him 2001 and he is a DNZ (German captive bred) from 1999, so he is 17 years old.

Roman

[dave himself]

No apology necessary... That's what I am here for, is to learn... I would hate to hurt one of my guy's over my vanity... So any positive feedback is much appreciated... So How much and how often would a retic in a jungle eat?


Who knows mate but I know this girl of ours acts like she would feed every time you open her viv door :D

[dave himself]

This was his point exactly... That you could keep it smaller by feeding it less... I want my guys to be healthy, but I am not trying to make them as big as I can eather... It would sure be nice if there were some sort of a chart or something to go by for newbies.

Look mate if you feed him to keep him a bit smaller what's the problem like I said in another post on this thread most retic breeders do it so why would anyone have a go at you for it?. It's not like your starving him or anything. My advice would be to contact the guy you got him off and ask him how he feeds his males, i hope this helps mate :)

[bigsnakegirl785]

.
Hey bigsnakegirl Thanks for the info... I am new at this and I'll take all the advise I can get... According to the breeder I got George from, 50% of his size comes from genetics, and 50% from how you feed him... His Father was only 10 feet so that's kind of what I am hoping to keep George down to... I am watching his weight closely.. Thanks again!

Their final size is mostly determined by their genetics the rate they grow at is determined by feeding size, but not their final potential size, unless they starve to death or don't survive long enough. Even if you underfeed him, he is going to grow way faster than you'll anticipate.

I would really encourage you to feed him normally. Maybe not overfeed him, but he needs to still be provided a good minimum food intake, I'd say no less than 10-20% of his weight every 1-2 weeks. If you weren't prepared for the potential size he could get, it probably would have been best to skip on retics, or have gotten a super dwarf. If his dad was small, there's a good chance he'll stay small, too, but no guarantee. If his mom was small, too, it will be more likely.

[franks]

I am not sure if the Dad's size has anything to do with it. Very small males can breed very large females and a large female will have the size and nutrients to put out larger babies then a smaller female. (Generally).

[bigsnakegirl785]

I am not sure if the Dad's size has anything to do with it. Very small males can breed very large females and a large female will have the size and nutrients to put out larger babies then a smaller female. (Generally).

Well I mean the father is giving his genes as well, and they do own a male. Which is why I said it's less likely to affect their snake's size than if the mother was small. Either way, the snake will get to the size it's meant to.

[Minkness]

I'm still interested in who has the oldest snake. There are plentybother feeding and growth posts to have this discussion on.

[SnoopySnake]

I'm still interested in who has the oldest snake. There are plentybother feeding and growth posts to have this discussion on.

^^^^^^ This....thread is getting a bit off topic lol

[dave himself]

I'm still interested in who has the oldest snake. There are plentybother feeding and growth posts to have this discussion on.

^^^^^^ This....thread is getting a bit off topic lol

I couldn't agree with you two more :) and I apologise for taking this thread way off topic sorry folks :(

[SnoopySnake]

I couldn't agree with you to ladies more :) and I apologise for taking this thread way off topic sorry folks :(

No need to apologize ;) It happens...very easily lol

[dave himself]

No need to apologize ;) It happens...very easily lol

Cheers Snoopy :)