How fast DO they grow?

[DaBachelor]

Im sure this is a question most people want to know however i shall ask. I recently obtained an amel corn snake and he is about 4 1/2 months old(i think). I got him from a petco store and the age was around that they said. Hes gotten noticably bigger since i frist got him and that was a month ago. So i just wanted to know, is there a certain size that should be acheived on a certain time frame or does it vary. Ball park estimates PLEASE!

 

[Jadie.Glitch]

This question would probably be best suited for the Basic Care section of this forum...

and to answer your question: I don't know, lol. Sorry... I'm sure they all grow at approximately the same rate but as I've only owned snakes for about a year I don't have enough experience to be able to answer...

 

[Chip]

They can go from 7-8 grams to 150+ in the first year. Some eat better and put on size faster than others. Some strains just get bigger and are beefier than others too. Your feeding almost 100% dictates the size, and at very least; rate of growth. But a healthy snake grows fast.

 

[Kazarus]

They grow to the size of their enclosure.

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Hah! Just kidding, guys! *dodges rocks*

 

[sarcare]

I got my hatchlings almost two months ago, and at that point they were one month old and at about 8 and 9g. Today they are at 15g and 16g, having both shed twice for me. They are on double small pinks, and eat like champs. I think they need the food because they are full of such anxious energy and squirm like worms. I bought a snake at the beginning of June, who was about 4-5months old--he was 15g then. Now he is pushing 50g, and is on fuzzies.

 

[RobbiesCornField]

It really all depends on the snake. Each one is different, just like each person. I've got one '06 that will probably be ready to breed this coming year, but I've also got 2 more that won't be ready to breed until 2010. Every snake is different, so don't push 'em to do something they don't want to. Just take it nice and slow and at their own pace. at 4.5 months old, you should be feeding every 5-7 days. Any more than that, and it's what is known as "power feeding", and can be detrimental to your snakes health.
Good luck with your new critter!

 

[Suzy]

I agree with everyone else, but i'd like to add my input. I have an '07 Classic Motley that I purchased in June of this year. At that time, he was 12 grams and 16 inches. Now, a mere 4 months later, he's 54 grams and 26 inches. There were 2 reasons for this - First being the fact that he was actually getting normal meals and also being a growing snake, and second being because of the fact that he was on a maintainance diet. So, it's all really dependant on your snake's genetics and how you feed him/her.

 

[lyfeoverdeath]

a corn snake reaches sexual maturity around 2-3 yrs. they have a maximum size of about 3 1/2 feet to 5 at the absolute most.a one year old corn should be around 2 to 3feet with regualr "ample" feedings every week.the feeding definetly decides the growth rate of your corn.i don't power feed my corns like some breeders but i do try to get them to breeding size faster than they would in the wild. for example, i like to feed a 2 foot long corn of mine 2 fuzzie mice at one feeding and about 4-5 days later another two.my snakes never get fat at that rate. they only gain weight and get "cut" . by that i mean completly full bodied and muscular definition is absolutly apparent.this is a healthy approach to getting your snake at a good size in a "fair"(to the snake's health) amount of time. but if your corn is just a pet with no intentions but to look pretty on display. feeding once every 7 or 8 days is recommended for a natural growth rate.good luck with your corn!!

 

[Weebonilass]

I have one that I don't think will ever be big enough to breed...sigh.... he's almost a year old now and still only weighs in at 12grams... He doesn't normally turn down a meal, and even ate the last time he was in blue.... have no idea why he doesn't want to grow up, but he appears to have something against it.... sigh....

 

[lyfeoverdeath]

in reference to weebonilas . if your snake isn't growing at pace that you think is healthy or natural, then i would suggest an appetite stimulant of maybe even a simple trip to the vet for a more thurough examination or even a simple diagnosis.but i would probably check the cage temp. and make sure it's at a good enough themal range for your corn to digest at a "better" pace to promote more digestion and to raise your corn's metabolism ,or to actually try and suppliment vitamins into it's diet.you can buy suppliments for reptiles that you simply put in the water and let them ingest as they unsuspectantly drink. Also,there could be a possibility of a protien, calcium,or nutrtion deficiency.protien is a general weight gaining nutrient and calcium is for bone growth and muscular developement.so i think u shuld try to get the appetite stimulant at pet smart(where they always have it by the retile medicine and suppliment section).it shouldn't cost more than $8 and i will be more than enough especially if you have any future problem feeders.if you don't believe that the appetite situation is a problem area, then i might suggest the vitamin supplimentation and if all else fails then i think the vet should have the last word.but this whole process shouldn't take more than 3-4 weeks.if your corn is a year old i don't see it dying or getting worse by some small low-cost home remedies.if he was gonna make a turn for the worst he would have by now.also, what do you or him have to loose by adding some extra vitamin and minerals to his diet and boosting his ammunities for the time being.hope he does better. Please,repost if any progress is apparent.

 

[Weebonilass]

in reference to weebonilas . if your snake isn't growing at pace that you think is healthy or natural, then i would suggest an appetite stimulant of maybe even a simple trip to the vet for a more thurough examination or even a simple diagnosis.but i would probably check the cage temp. and make sure it's at a good enough themal range for your corn to digest at a "better" pace to promote more digestion and to raise your corn's metabolism ,or to actually try and suppliment vitamins into it's diet.you can buy suppliments for reptiles that you simply put in the water and let them ingest as they unsuspectantly drink. Also,there could be a possibility of a protien, calcium,or nutrtion deficiency.protien is a general weight gaining nutrient and calcium is for bone growth and muscular developement.so i think u shuld try to get the appetite stimulant at pet smart(where they always have it by the retile medicine and suppliment section).it shouldn't cost more than $8 and i will be more than enough especially if you have any future problem feeders.if you don't believe that the appetite situation is a problem area, then i might suggest the vitamin supplimentation and if all else fails then i think the vet should have the last word.but this whole process shouldn't take more than 3-4 weeks.if your corn is a year old i don't see it dying or getting worse by some small low-cost home remedies.if he was gonna make a turn for the worst he would have by now.also, what do you or him have to loose by adding some extra vitamin and minerals to his diet and boosting his ammunities for the time being.hope he does better. Please,repost if any progress is apparent.

He's definitely not a problem feeder, but I might try a supplement for him. I might try slitting it again. I haven't slit his pinkies the last few times. I can't feed him any more often as that causes a regurge or at least it has in the past.

Both parents were fairly good size. Gunn is from an unplan breeding. The guy I bought him from both the parents for breeding and didn't realize that they had been exposed to each other. They only were able to get three to thrive. The fellow lost them this summer, so it may be that something is going on, but he looks and acts very healthy. I'm not going to worry too much as long as he continues to have a healthy appetite. I think once I can get him on something other than pinkies it may help. He is growing lengthwise.

 

[lyfeoverdeath]

wow......that's a real shame about the clutch. so that would mean....he was the only survivor to date? i dunno maybe they were just malnurished at birth but he would and should be fine now.it's been a while.hahaha.but, if he is growing lengthwise then you don't seem to have a problem.if u increase food servings with small snakes, and you are afraid of a regurge ,then increase his (for example) one pinkie a week to 1 and 1/3 or 1 1/2 pink the next week. and the same the week after that.then the 3rd week offer 2 whole ones.but by no means would i ever want you to panic.i know it's a scarey thought to offer larger portions after you experience regurgitation with your corn because we both know that it's life threatening, but only after 3 or more times or it's a chronic type of condition.i think that once you get a succesful increase in the food and he doesn't regurge , you will feel better about his growth and health. i know the only time i ever had my corn regurge was when i was in the middle of a move from house to house and i didn't have a stand or shelf for it to be on, and the cool ground in my basement chilled my corn snakes belly and it couldn't hold the food down(hence the drop in temp.)
anyways, i hope any advice i offer can help you or your snake feel a little bit better.

 

[Weebonilass]

,then increase his (for example) one pinkie a week to 1 and 1/3 or 1 1/2 pink the next week.

I hadn't thought about partial feeds...hmmmm.... I'm not really worried about him as long as he continues to eat as well as he does, it just gets a little weird that he's as small as alot of young hatchling at almost a year old. The others are putting on weight well, so I know my set-ups aren't the problem.

I'm not sure if he's the only survivor. The shop sold the other two a month or so after I bought my guy. The owner only sold him to me because he knew I had a lot of experience with snakes and knew what I was doing. He kept the other two until they were eating consistently. Have no idea if they stayed small or even alive.

The shopowner has no idea what happened to the parents. But like many of the breeders on here, it wasn't a good year for him.

Sorry for hijacking the thread!

 

[caz223]

Sometimes we think they're not growing because we see them every day.
I think they're not growing until they're a year old, then I see the hatchlings, and it never fails to amaze me how small they are.
I think we just see them every day, and they're the same size.
(They're really growing, and it's a just a matter of perspective.)

 

[Buzzard]

Snakes in general in captivity general grow real fast in comparison to those in the wild. Most one year old wild snakes still look real small compared to most captive kept snakes of the same age. I would think(not a biologist) that it would have to do with the food, how often the snake eats, and what kind of enviroment( hot or cold) the snake lives in and the snakes genes. Just like humans we all dont grow at the same time, the same size, some of us are skinny and some(like myself) are fat...

 

[lyfeoverdeath]

i agree that some may seem like they don't grow really all that much (especially snakes over 3 feet),just from frequent everyday observations and interactions.on the other hand i do feed mine (like i previously wrote) every 4-5 days as opposed to the 7 or 10 day recommendation (which would make even regular and natural growth seem undetectable) by most basic care sources.but, i am simply making it possible for my corns to reach breeding size and maturity at a slightly increased rate. so, the growth of my collection is always prevelant and obvious and never out of reason.but that's the comparison of different owners all in all.and there's nothing wrong with sharing the differences of opinion in my eyes. that's what this hobby is about.and to each his own...

 

[Weebonilass]

Sometimes we think they're not growing because we see them every day.
I think they're not growing until they're a year old, then I see the hatchlings, and it never fails to amaze me how small they are.
I think we just see them every day, and they're the same size.
(They're really growing, and it's a just a matter of perspective.)

I would agree with this. My '06s are growing like weeds, although I don't really notice it except when I weigh them and do a measurement on them... but the Sunglow... well, 12grams is 12grams and that's tiny. I feed every 5-7 days. I tried feeding Gunn at 4 days and that backfired...uke02:

You just go with what you get as long as you know that you are doing everything you are suppose to be doing.

 

[Darcpixie]

Has he been checked for parasites?

SOMETHING is using the food other then him. It's a thought.

 

[Poshey]

i agree

I would agree with this. My '06s are growing like weeds, although I don't really notice it except when I weigh them and do a measurement on them... but the Sunglow... well, 12grams is 12grams and that's tiny. I feed every 5-7 days. I tried feeding Gunn at 4 days and that backfired...uke02:

You just go with what you get as long as you know that you are doing everything you are suppose to be doing.

i totally agree with this what he said

 

[jpccusa]

As a newbie, I weigh my little guy before every meal and I came to realize he grows an average of 2.5 grams per week.

Take in consideration that he is only 20.5 grams right now and babies may grow faster/slower than subadults or adults.

Also, I've heard that Okeetees can be bigger snakes, so he can be gaining grams faster than others. IDK.

I follow the Munson Plan and he is eating 2 pinkies every 6 days. He will probably upgrade to fuzzies in 2 weeks if he follows this pattern of growth.