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Influencing snake size via feeding schedule

7legion77 said:
I've been trying to make my snake grow. He can't reach 3 feet for the 3 or so months that I've had him.
When I got him, dude at the pet shop said he was two year. He was about 2 3/5 feet. He's shed twice, and grown only slightly. I've done a little "power-feeding" but he seems to have only gotten fatter around the midsection, and I don't see any acceleration in growth.

Should I accept that he's just a runt, or keep a large mouse every 7-10 days schedule, and just be patient? Maybe growth is a lot more gradual and slower than I'd think.

Only saying this because when I went to my friend's house and met her corn, it was more than 2 times the size of mine! I hope he gets at least close to that size.
Click to expand...

I would keep feeding the one mouse once a week. Some snakes grow slower and some snakes are just going to be smaller.
 
He can't reach 3 feet for the 3 or so months that I've had him.
When I got him, dude at the pet shop said he was two year. He was about 2 3/5 feet. He's shed twice, and grown only slightly.
Click to expand...
My little adult took five years to reach three and a half feet and never grew any more. You might have a slow-grower, or you might just have one that comes from a smaller bloodline.

If he's starting to gain weight rather than length, I'd take that as an indicater that power-feeding wasn't working as you want it to, and gear back. Better to have a short Corn, than a short fat Corn.
 
Yeah, I oughta lay off the overfeeding. Last time I fed him a very oversized mouse, I had to prekill the thing cause it looked so scary. AND I fed him a rat pup on top of that.

I've learned from the book that with a "hot spot" that can go well above 90 degrees, and a wide range of temperatures available within the tank, then snakes are able to comfortably digest larger meals, and this has proven true.

Still, I should stop wishing for a bigger snake, and instead appreciate how adaptable, active, healthy, alert & aware, always has an appetite, and handsome he is :)
 
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