7 months old and only 70 grams?

**Minkness** · 07-03-15, 10:06 PM

Got a supposedly female ivory today and was told that the people I got her from had her for about 7 months, but I have no confirmed age on her. For all I know she's a year old. I will be working with her as she also had bad shed, 4 retai ed eye caps, and mites. The mites and shed will be easy enough i think, and I haven't tried to geed her since she's been through alot today. My main concern is her size. My male BP who I got from a lovely breeder is about a year old and a muscular 502 at last wheigh in. If I can get this little girl to eat regularly, will she be able to grow and live normally, or will she always stay small and/or be more likely to have issues?

that1guy · 07-04-15, 12:23 AM

"If I can get this little girl to eat regularly, will she be able to grow and live normally, or will she always stay small and/or be more likely to have issues?"

If she will eat regularly, I think she should be fine. We are used to captive breed weights but I would think this isn't unheard of in the wild where food is more difficult to obtain.

Albert Clark · 07-04-15, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

Got a supposedly female ivory today and was told that the people I got her from had her for about 7 months, but I have no confirmed age on her. For all I know she's a year old. I will be working with her as she also had bad shed, 4 retai ed eye caps, and mites. The mites and shed will be easy enough i think, and I haven't tried to geed her since she's been through alot today. My main concern is her size. My male BP who I got from a lovely breeder is about a year old and a muscular 502 at last wheigh in. If I can get this little girl to eat regularly, will she be able to grow and live normally, or will she always stay small and/or be more likely to have issues?

Congrats Mink! Nice , cool pick up. I would keep her on paper towels until most or all of her issues resolve. Thank God for you taking that responsibility to rescue her from a more ominous health issues. IMO, if you make sure she has fresh water to drink and soak that will help her start to regain her appetite. You can even pour some "pedialite" or diluted Gatorade into her water to begin to help her replace electrolytes and hydration status. That's a beautiful animal and I am sure she will rebound with your good care and husbandry.

Remember snakes absorb fluid through the cloaca, so that is a great place to start to get her better.

DDW · 07-04-15, 07:46 AM

That size reminds me of something I heard a seller say to a customer at the expo "they will only grow as big as you feed them" I think they were talking about a Burmese python babies

I wanted so badly to go in and correct them but I thought better of it and walked on. (The people didn't have a very perfesional aatmosphere anyhow, dirty tanks and non-see through tubs for seeing their animals. Some even said wc on the top and were supposed to be bps.

Anyways, comgrats

I'm happy for you.

**Minkness** · 07-04-15, 10:08 AM

Thanks guys. All of that is good to know. =)

I already have her on paper towels and plan on keeping her on them. My other snakes don't seem to have an issue with substrates, but with my (very limited) experience with my other BP, all the substrates I tried either retained too much moisture or dried him out. Since I have had him on a rubber shelving liner he's been great, so that is most likely what I'll be keeping her on once ahe gets a more permanent enclosure.

With her tiny size do you think a 10 gal tank would be ok for a while? If not, that's fine, I do have a large tub for her (need to take measurements). I was just wondering if too much space would stress her out. I mean, the tub was perfect for Moko when I got him. He was like 364 grams when I got him.

DDW · 07-04-15, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

Thanks guys. All of that is good to know. =)

I already have her on paper towels and plan on keeping her on them. My other snakes don't seem to have an issue with substrates, but with my (very limited) experience with my other BP, all the substrates I tried either retained too much moisture or dried him out. Since I have had him on a rubber shelving liner he's been great, so that is most likely what I'll be keeping her on once ahe gets a more permanent enclosure.

With her tiny size do you think a 10 gal tank would be ok for a while? If not, that's fine, I do have a large tub for her (need to take measurements). I was just wondering if too much space would stress her out. I mean, the tub was perfect for Moko when I got him. He was like 364 grams when I got him.

Should be fine as long as she has plenty of hides and clutter.

**lady_bug87** · 07-05-15, 08:29 AM

Hello my dear. A few things.

1) all your animals should be treated for mites. If not you'll never get rid of them.

2) we have babies come out of the egg at 70g. My 2014 hold backs are all in the 250g range.

3) for the shed and dehydration. From the pictures she doesn't look like she needs pedialyte. Please do not use Gatorade. As you take care of the mites she'll shed. Make sure once you get rid of the mites you keep her humidity up.

4) she may always be a little smaller but there's a good chance she'll be fine. Start her slow and keep her meals consistent.

5) a tank may not be the best place for her unless its sealed well. Just until she gets a little more robust I'd opt for a tub and move her over later.

Keep us posted

**Minkness** · 07-05-15, 12:53 PM

The only tub I currently have is WAY too big for her. She's currently in a little 'breeder' kritter keeper thing, not a tank. I can cover the lid though to help hold humidity in though if that's what you're worried about. I planned on moving her into a tub when she's a bit healthier.

**lady_bug87** · 07-05-15, 03:10 PM

You're doing great!