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A snake that doesn't grow?

W

wolfGirl

New member
Hey, everyone! I noticed that my snake is growing but very slow. Me and my brother got our snakes from the same place and same day and his snake is twice the size of mine. I'm not sure if this is because of the sex or maybe they're different ages? although they were the same size when we got them. I also noticed that on my snakes belly the stripes are clear white and black and looks normal but from half way onward it's reddish spot like where the white is and it's always been like that, maybe it's just his colour?; he just shed a day ago so I don't think it's that either.

Please help!
 
wolfGirl said:
Hey, everyone! I noticed that my snake is growing but very slow. Me and my brother got our snakes from the same place and same day and his snake is twice the size of mine. I'm not sure if this is because of the sex or maybe they're different ages? although they were the same size when we got them. I also noticed that on my snakes belly the stripes are clear white and black and looks normal but from half way onward it's reddish spot like where the white is and it's always been like that, maybe it's just his colour?; he just shed a day ago so I don't think it's that either.

Please help!
Click to expand...

Sounds like typical cornsnake behavior! I think they ALL have a growth rate that is as different as is their traits & characteristics (or their "personalities," though the root of that particular term applies mostly to homo sapiens).

I have 3 adult corns (1 female & 2 males) and from the time they were hatchlings until 2 years old, the female was, by far, the quickest growing and largest of them. She was so big compared to them that I fed her larger rodents until she hit 3 feet, at which time she virtually STOPPED growing! Today, both males are approximately 5' and she looks like the dwarf if they were put side-to-side (she hovers at 400 grams, depending upon if she's gravid - 460+ - or has just laid - 320 - while her males counterparts are at 760 & 870 grams respectively).

The 1 surviving hatchling I have from this female and both males who mated with her last year is 11 months old next week and he's already approximately 2 & 1/2 feet and weighs a healthy 140 grams!

So, just judging from my relatively small sample and from my experience of caring for snakes on & off (mostly ON) for the past 45 years, is why I believe that growth will vary among corns and especially assuming all conditions for optimal growth (such as regular feeding times and consistent availability of food items) are met.

Just my own humble opinion. :)
 
I have 5 corns, all the same age (within a month or two), all fed on the same program. And yet, all have grown at different rates, and I now have a range from 230 to 330 grams. In the last 6 months, one grew 10 inches, while another grew 7 inches, another grew 5 inches, and 2 only grew one inch. If your snakes are babies, these numbers will be way smaller.
My thoughts are as long as they look a good weight and seem healthy, as long as they are eating and growing, then they're probably fine. Just like how my little sister was taller than me growing up, and I always had to wear her hand-me downs, even though I was known as the family garburator. LOL
 
some people reach 6 foot 5 and some people only make 4 foot 10. Even though they may be the same age.

An adult corn snake can max out at 3 feet or 6 feet or anywhere in between.
 
As others have said above, growth rate and eventual size seem to be individual to the snake.

I currently own 21 snakes (but 2 more will arrive tomorrow! :-D), and every one of them is different. Some of the more intensely bred snakes don't seem to grow as fast as others with less inbreeding, but even that is pretty random.

In my next of the woods, I seem to run into more people under-feeding than over feeding, but that is pretty random as well.

As long as you are following a good feeding schedule (neither over or under feeding), you snake should be alright and it will grow just as fast or slow as it is going to.

Best Wishes!
~Beau
 
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