Who has the oldest snake here? - Page 2

sattva · 07-31-16, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybgoode

It should be 100% generic and they should be fed properly. Imo this is terrible advice from the breeder...

This may be true, but you guy's are acting like I am starving the poor thing... I'm just not stuffing him, to see how big I can get him, like most people do! You've seen George... {This month's contest} Does he look underweight to you... ?
It would seem the opinions in this field very widely! You need to understand I love my guy's and they are not going hungry by any means... But I appreciate the advice...
I may have shot myself in the foot over this... I went and looked at his picture and he does look a little underweight... He is getting a small F/T rat every 7 days... So If I wanted to put some weight on him would I up the frequency or the size of the meal?

Derek Roddy · 07-31-16, 08:15 AM

Size in captivity is solely based on food intake. There are many species in captivity that are grown to sizes they would never achieve in the bush.

D

sattva · 07-31-16, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Roddy

Size in captivity is solely based on food intake. There are many species in captivity that are grown to sizes they would never achieve in the bush.

D

This was his point exactly... That you could keep it smaller by feeding it less... I want my guys to be healthy, but I am not trying to make them as big as I can eather... It would sure be nice if there were some sort of a chart or something to go by for newbies.

dannybgoode · 07-31-16, 01:43 PM

I guess I phrased my last post a little clumsily.

I mean it is possible to have a snake attain a too big a size in captivity as well as too small. A snake that is fed as close to its natural intake of food will attain it's natural size.

Power feeding (inadvertently or purposefully) and having a too large a snake is as bad as under feeding in the hope of keeping a snake small. A snake should be fed as close to a natural regime as possible, that is all.

@Sattva-I wasn't having a dig at you simply answering your question. Apologies if it came across otherwise. I still think it's bad advice from the breeder though.

sattva · 07-31-16, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybgoode

I guess I phrased my last post a little clumsily.

I mean it is possible to have a snake attain a too big a size in captivity as well as too small. A snake that is fed as close to its natural intake of food will attain it's natural size.

Power feeding (inadvertently or purposefully) and having a too large a snake is as bad as under feeding in the hope of keeping a snake small. A snake should be fed as close to a natural regime as possible, that is all.

@Sattva-I wasn't having a dig at you simply answering your question. Apologies if it came across otherwise. I still think it's bad advice from the breeder though.

No apology necessary... That's what I am here for, is to learn... I would hate to hurt one of my guy's over my vanity... So any positive feedback is much appreciated... So How much and how often would a retic in a jungle eat?

dave himself · 07-31-16, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Roddy

Size in captivity is solely based on food intake. There are many species in captivity that are grown to sizes they would never achieve in the bush.

D

Quote:

Originally Posted by sattva

This was his point exactly... That you could keep it smaller by feeding it less... I want my guys to be healthy, but I am not trying to make them as big as I can eather... It would sure be nice if there were some sort of a chart or something to go by for newbies.

Please don't think I'm being cheeky here buddy but you do know that your snakes dad was 10ft because he was probably fed to be that size and it was nothing to do with genetics and that most retic breeders feed all their males to keep them small and with very good reason

Roman · 07-31-16, 02:46 PM

My oldest snake was my male Taiwanese beauty snake (Orthriophis taeniurus frisei). When I got him in 1995 he was ca. 180 cm (6 ft) long, when he died 2014 he was ca. 240 cm (8 ft) long. So I had him 19 years and he was at least 2 and more probable 3 years old when I got him.

My first Californian king snake (Lampropeltis californiae) was about one year old when I got him and I had him for 18 years.

The oldest snake I currently keep is my male Pueblan milk snake (Lampropeltis polyzona, formerly known as Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli). I got him 2001 and he is a DNZ (German captive bred) from 1999, so he is 17 years old.

Roman

dave himself · 07-31-16, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sattva

No apology necessary... That's what I am here for, is to learn... I would hate to hurt one of my guy's over my vanity... So any positive feedback is much appreciated... So How much and how often would a retic in a jungle eat?

Who knows mate but I know this girl of ours acts like she would feed every time you open her viv door

dave himself · 07-31-16, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sattva

This was his point exactly... That you could keep it smaller by feeding it less... I want my guys to be healthy, but I am not trying to make them as big as I can eather... It would sure be nice if there were some sort of a chart or something to go by for newbies.

Look mate if you feed him to keep him a bit smaller what's the problem like I said in another post on this thread most retic breeders do it so why would anyone have a go at you for it?. It's not like your starving him or anything. My advice would be to contact the guy you got him off and ask him how he feeds his males, i hope this helps mate

bigsnakegirl785 · 07-31-16, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sattva

.
Hey bigsnakegirl Thanks for the info... I am new at this and I'll take all the advise I can get... According to the breeder I got George from, 50% of his size comes from genetics, and 50% from how you feed him... His Father was only 10 feet so that's kind of what I am hoping to keep George down to... I am watching his weight closely.. Thanks again!

Their final size is mostly determined by their genetics the rate they grow at is determined by feeding size, but not their final potential size, unless they starve to death or don't survive long enough. Even if you underfeed him, he is going to grow way faster than you'll anticipate.

I would really encourage you to feed him normally. Maybe not overfeed him, but he needs to still be provided a good minimum food intake, I'd say no less than 10-20% of his weight every 1-2 weeks. If you weren't prepared for the potential size he could get, it probably would have been best to skip on retics, or have gotten a super dwarf. If his dad was small, there's a good chance he'll stay small, too, but no guarantee. If his mom was small, too, it will be more likely.

franks · 07-31-16, 07:35 PM

I am not sure if the Dad's size has anything to do with it. Very small males can breed very large females and a large female will have the size and nutrients to put out larger babies then a smaller female. (Generally).

bigsnakegirl785 · 07-31-16, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by franks

I am not sure if the Dad's size has anything to do with it. Very small males can breed very large females and a large female will have the size and nutrients to put out larger babies then a smaller female. (Generally).

Well I mean the father is giving his genes as well, and they do own a male. Which is why I said it's less likely to affect their snake's size than if the mother was small. Either way, the snake will get to the size it's meant to.