2 Year old ball..Help?

AlphaWhiskey · 02-18-13, 02:18 AM

I've had my ball for a little over two years now, she eats great once a week, but comparing to other balls of the same age she seems to be extremely small. I dont know how much she weighs but shes about 2 feet long and probably about 2 inches around at the thickest part of her body. Ive never had any problems with her (never been aggressive or sick). Is there something wrong with her? Or is she just pre-destined to be a really small snake?

infernalis · 02-18-13, 02:26 AM

BP are all short and thick. It's the way they are built.

Corey209 · 02-18-13, 02:26 AM

If she eats and sheds she's fine.

Lankyrob · 02-18-13, 03:12 AM

How are you keeping her, temps/humidity etc and what and how often are you feeding her?

**Aaron_S** · 02-18-13, 09:18 AM

If it truly is a female it's probably undersized for 2 years old. If you can get a weight it would be better but all animals, like people, grow at different paces. What are you feeding it?

alessia55 · 02-18-13, 10:42 AM

What are you feeding her? A photo with an object for size reference might help if you can't find a way to weigh her

NBLADE · 02-18-13, 11:48 AM

As the others have said, any chance of a picture of her? Also what size food she is on.

At that age and length she is small for her age, however, all snakes will grow at their own pace, as long as she is a healthy build and size, then there isn't a problem.

AlphaWhiskey · 02-19-13, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NBLADE

As the others have said, any chance of a picture of her? Also what size food she is on.

At that age and length she is small for her age, however, all snakes will grow at their own pace, as long as she is a healthy build and size, then there isn't a problem.

I had her wrap around a pack of cigs (the only thing i could really think of that could be used as a general size comparison), for a while i was only feeding her fuzzies(?) come to find out she was able to handle mice way bigger so now shes on Hoppers but i feel like that those still might be too small. She eats once a week never had problems taking them. Should I start buying bigger food sizes (small rats or adult mice?). I keep her cage at about 85 degrees and about 70% humidty and from most websites ive read thats good. Shes got a heat lamp with an undercage heat pad. big water bowl and hide on the cool side and a hide on the warm side as well.

Corey209 · 02-19-13, 11:21 PM

I was feeding my BP which was under a year old adult mice weekly so at two years I would think she could eat a lot bigger then a hopper. I feed large hoppers to my boa born 8/8/12 and they barely make a bulge.

**Aaron_S** · 02-19-13, 11:34 PM

1. Lower your humidity to about 55%
2. Raise your temperature about 8 - 10 degrees.
3. Your snake is severely undersized for 2 years of age. That's about the size of my 3 - 6 month old babies. I'd be trying to feed it a rat weanling every 7 days.

AlphaWhiskey · 02-20-13, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

1. Lower your humidity to about 55%
2. Raise your temperature about 8 - 10 degrees.
3. Your snake is severely undersized for 2 years of age. That's about the size of my 3 - 6 month old babies. I'd be trying to feed it a rat weanling every 7 days.

Alright I appreciate it, part of me kinda new she should be eating bigger but i was honestly to scared to start moving up sizes in fear of trying to feed her something that was too big for her size and her end up getting hurt.

She hasnt eaten in about a week now so ill head to the store tomorrow and pick up some weanlings and see how it goes than come back for a quick update!! Thanks again!

SnakeyJay · 02-20-13, 01:19 AM

You'll be surprised at what she can handle.. Goodluck with her.

NBLADE · 02-20-13, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaWhiskey

I had her wrap around a pack of cigs (the only thing i could really think of that could be used as a general size comparison), for a while i was only feeding her fuzzies(?) come to find out she was able to handle mice way bigger so now shes on Hoppers but i feel like that those still might be too small. She eats once a week never had problems taking them. Should I start buying bigger food sizes (small rats or adult mice?). I keep her cage at about 85 degrees and about 70% humidty and from most websites ive read thats good. Shes got a heat lamp with an undercage heat pad. big water bowl and hide on the cool side and a hide on the warm side as well.

I start fresh hatchling royals off on medium mice, so fuzzies would be way too small, she doesn't look skinny which is a good thing, but she should be a lot bigger by now, you will want to gradually increase the food size to what she should be able to take, don't just jump to a big one, next feed go for medium mice, then stick with them for a couple of weeks, then up to large mice / small weaner rats, then stay on them until she can go up to the next size.

The hot side you want to up from 85 to around 90 to 92, especially since you are upping food sizes aswell, as at 85 digestion will be slower and can cause a regurge, so make sure you get the temperatures up, the humidity can do with dropping a bit aswell, but aslong as she sheds fine and has no ri then it isn't a huge issue, and will probably drop a bit when you up the temperatures anyway.

**Aaron_S** · 02-20-13, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaWhiskey

Alright I appreciate it, part of me kinda new she should be eating bigger but i was honestly to scared to start moving up sizes in fear of trying to feed her something that was too big for her size and her end up getting hurt.

She hasnt eaten in about a week now so ill head to the store tomorrow and pick up some weanlings and see how it goes than come back for a quick update!! Thanks again!

Snakes aren't dumb. If they can't eat it, they will stop. They won't hurt themselves. No need to baby it.

Just feed it appropriately.