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How do I encourage good healthy growth?

Z

Zollowhex

New member
So my snake is about 1 1/2 years old currently. And one of my friends was talking about how some snakes get stressed and are stunted in growth.

My question is, ho do I encourage good growth for my snake?
Someone told me that, if you get them a bigger tank eventually, they ill grow along with it. I have a 20-gallon right now, should I upgrade soon or eventually?


I've had him for about 3 weeks now, and he hasn't shead, but he has eaten and pooped and such, about how long do snakes take to shead?

Any good ideas to monitor growth?



Note: I like snkes small and big. I just want him to reach the full length he is capable of.
 
The old "snakes will grow to the size of their tank" is a wonderful myth similarly used with fishkeeping.

Generally speaking, a snake will grow to the size of its health....keep the enclosure clean, feed on schedule, provide fresh water...the "usual suspects"....after that, its all up to the snake and its genetics.

A 1 1/2 year-old will generally shed every 4 to 6 weeks, given that it's fed properly - but there's no "rule", it's a generalization.

Good luck!

regards,
jazz
 
I agree that the size of the enclosure has no effect on the growth of your snake. 20 years ago when I first started collecting corns, I kept them in 10 gallon enclosures and all grew to healthy sizes.

The most important thing, after genetics, is to keep it on a regular feeding schedule.
 
I will certainly defer to the more experienced here, but I would say initially that stress in and of itself doesn't stunt growth. Rather, the results of stress are less feeding, not so robust health, poor digestion of what it does manage to eat.

Tank size. Your friend has cause and effect backwards. Assuming you feed him well, he'll grow. If he's in a too-small enclosure, he won't be able to get good exercise and his overall stress level could increase. Refer back to the first paragraph. A 20 gallon tank is probably pretty good (is it a regular or long?), but as he gets larger, he wll appreciate more room as long as the other husbandry things are in good order.

Monitoring growth - get a decent digital scale that can register in grams.

Good luck!

B
 
MerlinsPop said:
I will certainly defer to the more experienced here, but I would say initially that stress in and of itself doesn't stunt growth. Rather, the results of stress are less feeding, not so robust health, poor digestion of what it does manage to eat.

Tank size. Your friend has cause and effect backwards. Assuming you feed him well, he'll grow. If he's in a too-small enclosure, he won't be able to get good exercise and his overall stress level could increase. Refer back to the first paragraph. A 20 gallon tank is probably pretty good (is it a regular or long?), but as he gets larger, he wll appreciate more room as long as the other husbandry things are in good order.

Monitoring growth - get a decent digital scale that can register in grams.

Good luck!

B
Click to expand...
I'll take a pic later today and post it, so it will be easier to get opinions.
I just gave him a new box as a hide, but it is infact small. It is merly a sub. till I find a bigger box.

In terms of feeding.

I fed him last monday, a fuzzy. He seems to want more, how should I go about feeding him 2 fuzzies a week? At once? or spread it up?
 
Zollowhex said:
I fed him last monday, a fuzzy. He seems to want more, how should I go about feeding him 2 fuzzies a week? At once? or spread it up?
Click to expand...
As snakes are "opportunistic" feeders, they'll take what you give 'em. That said, it's better to increase the frequency of feeding, as opposed to the amount in any one feeding. Do a search or read the FAQs regarding "lump size", and follow those suggestions, and you'll do just fine.

regards,
jazz
 
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