Obese?

[Wizwise2000]

I have seen some posts about obese snakes. I'm just curious how does a snake become obese? Mine seems to be gaining some good amount of girth, but I for certain do not want him getting obese. This will probably sound really dumb, but how can you tell if a snake is obese?

Thanks:)
Shane

[HeatherK]

Scales spreading to show skin in between them can be one sign in a corn. Some will develop fatty deposits (lumps). I've never had an overweight snake to know any more 'clues'.

[Wizwise2000]

Mine just seems to be gaining a lot of weight. He's about 10 months old, I feed him a hopper every 7 days, just moved him to large pinky rats. Don't know if he could get obese this way or this young. Maybe it's just him growing and I'm paranoid again:)

Thanks
Shane

[HeatherK]

He's just growing. You don't want him to remain pencil thin :) There's no way you are feeding him too much by your description.

Those pink rats must be pretty large in order for them to be bigger than hopper mice. They can be high in fat composition, so you know.

[Andy_G]

I think one sign is if the belly is extremely rounded . I think the scutes are supposed to be somewhat flat and squared off and not continually distended(it's normal after meals obviously)...I am really not sure on this point though...