Quote:
Originally Posted by beaniebopps
When I purchased Jake he had been fed a weaner rat or 2 adult mice every week to ten days apparently, and had been kept in a tiny 2 foot tank. (Jake is over 5 feet and about 4 years old)
I started to feed him one weaner rat every 10 - 12 days and as soon as I got him moved him into a huge 4 X 2 X 2 foot tank.
The thing is that he has shed twice (3rd August and 28th August) and now he is in blue again since yesterday! (5th October) Isn't this more often than you would expect from a fully grown snake? I've asked this before but not really got any answer - but is it possible he is growing a bit more because his tank is so much bigger?
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Snakes do not grow faster or slower depending on tank size. A few reason for faster shed:
Injuries (Already mentioned)
Mites if there really irritating the snake (I assume you checked this)
Food. Rats are fatier then mice. I noticed in all my snakes feeding rats of each size encourages growth. 2 adult mice are to much (Unless we are talking sick or female getting ready for breeding season) so your doing great moving to 1 prey item. Though 1 adult mouse every 7-10 days has my preverence since there less fat and more nutricient.
I also notice stress seems to have an influence. Not a sientific fact but something i've noticed personally. Such as moving to a new enviroment seems to speed up things.
Anyway unless this keeps continuing i wouldn't worry about things.