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Methods of measuring snakes...

Velvet

Velvet

Totally corn crazy!!!!
Hi guys,

I was just wondering what methods you find work best for measuring the length of your snakes...cause lets face it, its not always easy to measure something that slithers around all the time... :santa:

Thought my Okeetee phase was about 80cm...but I "measured" him on the top of his 3foot (90cm) viv yesterday and he is definitely longer than that! So I am guessing that he is closer to 1 metre in length...

Do you take pics and work out the scale? Usual tape-measure method? lol

Thanks! :cheers:
 
i usually measure the shed it gives results close enough for me.
altho there is a program out there snake measurer

Ive tried that program ,but a few times -i did it twice and got different results
 
Thanks guys!

I had no idea there was a "snake measurer" out there! lol

Much appreciated!
 
The easy way is measure the shed and then subtract about 10% for streaching. At least I have found that to be very close to an actual measurement,
 
I've just tried out the 'Snake Measurer' and it seems to be incredibly accurate if done properly. Very satisfied. Glad velvet asked the question.
 
Before I got my digital camera I used a piece of string and carefully worked down teh snake, having my g/f hold small parts of the snake straight so I could work down the snake then finally measured the string. Works with a partner, but it's better if you can use the snake measuring app.
 
I'd imagine that one could do the same with a graphics program, with a little effort. I can't use the Serpwidget thing, but I can probably do the same in Photoshop.

Otherwise, I guess on the basis of how far he's stretching across his viv. :)

Darn snakes won't hold still. Sigh.
 
I use "the string" method [sounds so knowledgable]. Nibblet is very tame. He/she likes to lay in my hand all coiled up. I'm able to lay string along her body (as long as I start from the tail) on my own.
 
On a smooth surface my corn will hug against any straight edge to move along, including a ruler. Makes it quite easy.
 
How about marks on a hall wall?

KieranOnWall.jpg
 
When I have to measure snakes in the field I use a 'squeeze box'. Basically, it is made with a piece of plywood and then 4 inch trim surrounding 3 sides. (The fourth side is left open in case you need to pull the tail out to sex the snake etc.) Next you place 1/2 foam rubber into the box and then a piece of plexi-glass with a handle on top of the foam. When you capture a snake, you place it on the foam rubber and then lightly place the plexi-glass on it. Now you can make an outline with a dry erase marker of the entire snake. To measure you can use a piece of string or I personally use an old map measurer that is delineated in cm. I merely run the little rotating wheel along the line and it gives me the length.

On a side note, sorry if my description sucks, I'll take pictures next time I pull it out to measure a snake.
 
Weebonilass said:
Sounds like a cool idea if you have a lot of snakes, Jeff. Do they willingly go into it? :)
Click to expand...


Not so willing but I don't measure my corns this way...never really needed a measurement for them. However, with my research, every animal I come across I need to measure...from the garter snakes to my study animal (Timber Rattlesnake) and everything in between. So far this has been the easiest and safest method and fast too. I can get a snake measured in a few seconds and then let it go. As the marker is on the plexi-glass I can measure it when I have time...usually at the end of the day.
 
Why do I shudder when I think of trying to stuff a Timber rattler in one of those things?

Rattlers and I have come to a very happy agreement. When we should meet on the trail, they go one way and I go the other :)
 
Just tried this out and tried it with three different units of measurements and got within an inch or two all three times. My guy is 4.55 feet long :)

I took the pictures in the bathtub with a ruler along side him... only way to keep him contained enough to get a measurement :)


Thought some of the newbies might like to try it out :)
 
slim08 said:
I've just tried out the 'Snake Measurer' and it seems to be incredibly accurate if done properly. Very satisfied. Glad velvet asked the question.
Click to expand...
The "Snake Measurer" is an awesome application, I did notice however that sometimes you have to re-size the pic of your snake, the first few times I loaded the pic of my snake into the application, the picture was huge and only showed a portion of the snake..I opened up my photo software and resized the pic to 800x600 and it worked perfectly. :cheers:
 
LOL I had to do the same thing. Of course, the length of my picture was like 28 inches, which is what apparently the camera is set on :) I was impressed how close it was each time even I used a different length of measurement (1 inch, 5 inches, 10 inches).
 
Weebonilass

Great way to keep the snake contained for the photo! When I tried to photograph Maizey, I was holding the camera and trying to herd her near the ruler with my feet, and got accused of kicking the snake! As if!! When I finally had the pic, and resized it to fit- what a great program. I tend to really underestimate snake length.

Nanci
 
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