Runts?

[gimpsnakelvr]

i was just curious if a clutch of eggs can produce runts like dogs do in a liter?

 

[ShenziSixaxis]

I don't think so. Eggs are laid with pretty much yolk and white, which then grows into the baby corn. With dogs and other mammals that have multiple young, the babies are developing from fertilized egg to pretty much a miniature of the adult species, and they are developing from the nutrients supplied from the mother, during development AND after birth.

Just the way I see it. I haven't gotten to breeding any reptiles yet.

 

[bitsy]

You do get them, but I've found they tend to happen more with twins. So not that frequently. There's usually one big twin and one small twin.

Sometime they can be difficult to get eating, as they need much smaller meals for a while. Some I've lost as non-feeders, but I've had others that turned out to be my most voracious and reliable eaters, catching up in size with their clutch mates within a couple of months.

 

[Nanci]

A clutch can contain smaller than usual-sized eggs. My El Wray hatched out of a grape-sized egg and weighed four grams. He was the first in his clutch to feed and within the first several months of life "caught up" with similarly-sized, same age hatchlings. He's now a full-grown adult.

 

[Nanci]

El Wray was able to eat a whole pink (small) from his first meal on. Here he is in January, 2010.

 

[gimpsnakelvr]

its very interesting. thank you nancy, shenzi, and bitsy

 

[Shiari]

My Nautley was 4 grams when I got him as well, so yes, 'runts' happen.

 

[BloodyBaroness]

Absolutely runts happen. I have a runt ball python that was born from a "boob" egg. He was a slow starter but then really took off and is doing well. Yeppers runts happen.

 

[cornspot]

I have a bloodred that was 2 grams at hatching. It ate fine from the first meal & is now every bit as large as others his age.

 

[gimpsnakelvr]

I'm wondering if i have runt. he was hatched in july and seems kinda small. especially since my black milk snake is growing like a weed and was hatched in september.

 

[Nanci]

What's your feeding schedule like? And you can't compare a corn to a milk, or really to any other corn except from the same clutch. Too many variables. How much does he weigh? My smallest 2009 is still 15 grams, and the second smallest is about 22. The biggest is 70 grams. Once they get onto fuzzies, the growth rate really increases, and the ones on pinks still fall even further behind. But it really doesn't matter, as long as your snakes are healthy and of a good weight for their size. I mean, a nice "loaf of bread-shaped cross-section, not a skinny, sharp spine.

 

[gimpsnakelvr]

i've been using the munson plan. right now he is on single pinks. the scale says, give or take 15-17 grams. he definitely doesn't have a sharp or thin spiny back, so i imagine he is healthy. hasnt refused a meal except when in blue. if i get a a consistent weigh over 15 i'll bump him to double pinks. unless you think i should bump him now?

 

[Nanci]

Are you feeding every five days? Are you slitting the pinks? I would go by the Munson Plan, but I usually let them get a few grams over what the plan says before bumping up. So- just don't worry about it! Once he moves up a couple steps, he'll take off. You don't want to rush things and cause a regurge- that is a huge set-back.

 

[danielle]

Look at your feeding schedule and size of the prey item. He may need to be fed a larger meal and/or more frequently

 

[gimpsnakelvr]

thanks for the input!

 

[marshaelaine]

my powder was 4 grams when hatched, he is growing like champ and is now 50 grams.
Marsha