ReptiMama2
Hatchling Member
I have a 5 year old Ball Python and he is small for his age. Here are a couple of recent pictures, taken with my phone so quality is :? I'll try to get some better ones later.
I know he is 5 because I got him in 2005 after my husband came home from Iraq. I got him from a pet store in the mall... I know...not the best place but I was more stupid back then and pretty novice too! He eats adult mice once a week, anywhere between 1-3. He's never really been a picky eater and only refused to eat once when we first got him. He's active, alert, normal behavior. He has not had any health problems since I've had him. He recently had a good shed, about 3 weeks ago or so. I can't remember what size his viv is right now, though it is pretty good size, but I'll try to get pics soon to show the whole set up. I updated him almost immediately after I got him because the lady in the pet store, when I asked if the 10 gal. she was trying to sell me would last his lifetime, told me "sure that will be plenty big" and then I found out uh NO so I got a bigger one if I had to guess I would say 30-40 gal... He has a large water bowl, large log for a hide, under tank heater and heat rock, I know those can be bad but I've never had a problem with it and he loves it. Here is the bedding I use: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752663 We have moved around a great deal since we first got him so there may be some stress from all of that.
Can anyone give any suggestions as to why he is still so small? I don't really mind but I don't want it to affect his health. I think he is only the size of about a 1 year old... Would feeding him more or enlarging his viv help any?
I know he is 5 because I got him in 2005 after my husband came home from Iraq. I got him from a pet store in the mall... I know...not the best place but I was more stupid back then and pretty novice too! He eats adult mice once a week, anywhere between 1-3. He's never really been a picky eater and only refused to eat once when we first got him. He's active, alert, normal behavior. He has not had any health problems since I've had him. He recently had a good shed, about 3 weeks ago or so. I can't remember what size his viv is right now, though it is pretty good size, but I'll try to get pics soon to show the whole set up. I updated him almost immediately after I got him because the lady in the pet store, when I asked if the 10 gal. she was trying to sell me would last his lifetime, told me "sure that will be plenty big" and then I found out uh NO so I got a bigger one if I had to guess I would say 30-40 gal... He has a large water bowl, large log for a hide, under tank heater and heat rock, I know those can be bad but I've never had a problem with it and he loves it. Here is the bedding I use: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752663 We have moved around a great deal since we first got him so there may be some stress from all of that.
Can anyone give any suggestions as to why he is still so small? I don't really mind but I don't want it to affect his health. I think he is only the size of about a 1 year old... Would feeding him more or enlarging his viv help any?