measuring snakes

[fateamber]

I find it difficult enough to measure my tiny corn snake so i didn't even attempt to try to measure my ball python (seems to strong to stretch out) so what is the best (and easyest) way to measure a snake?

[chas*e]

Use a cloth measuring tape, The kind a tailor or seamstress would use. Start at one end of the serpent run it down the body as far as you can, Hold it there and continue on. I find this method easiest as you can take a break and let the animal calm down a little if need be,

Ed Holder
Durham Snake Group

Boids & Varanids

[HetForHuman]

well i was given this program from someone on this forum. go to the link and download it. all you need to do is follow the instuctions. it is very easy and gives you a pretty close size of your snakes.

http://www.serpwidgets.com/cornsnakes/Apps/apps.html

[Emily-Fisher]

use one of those paper/maetrial tape measurers.

[Burmies]

You could use a shoe lace to measure it and then measure the shoe lace aftre.

Burmies

[J_Riley]

if you have a digital camera (or regular camera and a scanner) the app that HetForHuman posted is awesome and VERY accurate. I usually take 3 pics of each snake and average them. When I first started useing the program, I used the string method afterwards to compare and the program is very accurate IF you follow the directions.

[Lisa]

i've found the cloth measuring tape to give varied results differing as much as 10 inches... some times the snake stretches, some times it pulls back. go with the program if you have a digi cam or a scanner and regular camera.

[Bryce Masuk]

I measure there shed after they drop it

[J_Riley]

Just for reference, I measured shed skins and this is the 2nd LEAST accurate way to measure a snake (the 1st being guessing).
The % of error on shed skin lengths to actual length can be anywhere from 25%-60% !!!

I measured one of my watersnakes using the program and got 3 measurements (3 pics of same snake in slightly different positions) and got 20.4", 21.0" and 20.8". When I measured a shed skin, it measured a hair over 26".

[Bryce Masuk]

you can tell i rarely measure my snakes but i have measured my snakes with a fabric measure i honestly dont really care about length

[fateamber]

Now i am trying measuring my snakes by waiting till they get to a certain point when they are moving around, then mark that point and mark where the end of their tail is, then measure that space with a ruler. Although it would only work if they are stretched out which they usually are when moving forward. Do you think this is acurate or would they be too stretched out?

[reptilesalonica]

When i measured my snakes (now i only weigh them) i found that was easy with a looong string. Measure from the downside from had to tail and then just measure where the tail ends in the string.
~Greg~

[snakegal12345]

use a string and measure tip to tail and then measure how long the string is

[Edwin]

Hip, one of this site's members has a great way of measuring snakes. Snakes tend to lean up straight against walls, so if you let your snake slide up against the wall, it will straighten itself and you can measure its length.

Hope this helps.

[precious]

Originally posted by Edwin
Snakes tend to lean up straight against walls, so if you let your snake slide up against the wall, it will straighten itself and you can measure its length.

That's what I do. It works like a charm.