What is too much growth?

[CosmicOwl]

Recently, I increased the size of the meals for my young grey rat snake. It wasn't that I was unhappy with his size, but I figured that since he was nearing a year old, he could do with more food to help fuel his natural growth. I switched over to feeding 10-15% of his body weight every 6-7 days and he's definitely growing. In the last three weeks, he's gone from 100 grams to 132 grams.

I've never really monitored food intake and growth like this, so the difference was a bit surprising to me. He's slender and muscular and poops regularly, so I don't think he's holding onto anything. I wouldn't say I'm worried, but I have heard many people say that snakes who grow too quickly will end up living shorter lives. So, I thought I would ask what you guys think constitutes growing too quickly.

[Mikoh4792]

Don't take my word for it, but fast growth shouldn't worry you. Obesity should. If your snake is growing but is staying lean and muscular he should be fine.

Besides you are feeding him 10-15% of his body weight weekly, you aren't stuffing him with meals twice his size every 3 days.

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

Don't take my word for it, but fast growth shouldn't worry you. Obesity should. If your snake is growing but is staying lean and muscular he should be fine.

Besides you are feeding him 10-15% of his body weight weekly, you aren't stuffing him with meals twice his size every 3 days.

I definitely don't think I'm anywhere near power feeding. He easily takes down two hoppers without leaving a particularly larger lump. And he seems like pretty lean and muscular snakes. I can always see the muscles in his back and sides.

[millertime89]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

Don't take my word for it, but fast growth shouldn't worry you. Obesity should. If your snake is growing but is staying lean and muscular he should be fine.

Preach brother. This is the bigger concern.

[franks]

Maybe he was slightly under fed before. You have nothing to worry about. When young snakes eat well they grow well. I love your ratsnakes btw CosmicOwl. Good looking snake.

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by franks

Maybe he was slightly under fed before. You have nothing to worry about. When young snakes eat well they grow well. I love your ratsnakes btw CosmicOwl. Good looking snake.

Thanks. He's a pretty cool little dude.

Honestly, I was worried that I was power feeding. I've just read a lot of people talking about fast growth reducing a snakes lifespan. However, the definition of growing "too fast" always seems to be pretty vague and/or subjective.

[EL Ziggy]

This is the same feeding schedule I use for my colubrids Owl. I noticed a big growth spurt in the beginning as well. I think I was just under feeding them before. I think my snakes are right where they should be now. Like others have said there's nothing wrong with a big, healthy snake but you don't want an obese one. As long as he's lean and muscular I wouldn't worry. If you notice he starts getting a little chunky just scale back a bit. I also vary my snakes meal size and feeding frequency a bit to mix things up.

[franks]

Power feeding is not the size of the meal but the frequency with which it is offered. When power feeding your snake lives life constantly digesting food. An example of power feeding would be 20% body weight prey every 4 days. In this scenario the snakes body never has a chance to ramp down but is always working to digest food. Again, you are far from power feeding your snake. If you wanted to offer larger prey that would be fine. Just use your eyes and depending on the size of the lump give him more time between feedings if you'd like. It's not a bad thing to have a snake that is a little hungry. Many people that come on this forum and are wondering why their snake is so inactive is because they give their snake no reason to be. (This is especially true with ball pythons.) The only snakes I feed on a "schedule" of sorts are my babies. I basically just wait for a few days after my snakes are hungry and cruising around for food before feeding.

[millertime89]

Fast growth doesn't, obesity (like in all species) does.