Increased female growth rates

[Vittoamp]

I got these two vanilla girls last year. I picked them both because 1) the price was right 2) extremely unique patterns on these girls & 3) I wanted to make vanilla creams.

Well as you know vanillas get better as they shed and age just like fires. Their patterns are wild. Simular to the new trick ball. A member on here described one of my females as reminding her as "ancient Celtic bronze work". So off the bat I knew these vanillas weren't like your typical ones. Well i have noticed that both these girls are growing faster then any of other ball pythons I've had or seen. Like around double or more. I feed often; once maybe twice a week. The same live rats I feed my other snakes, I feed these girls.

They were both born early August, 2011. I just weighed one and she weighs 600+ grams! Her sibling weighed in at 800+ grams!

Is this growth rate faster than what others have seen? Because this is really unique to me.

I really hope this turns out to be genetic. Imagine females being at breeding weight in just one season. I doubt they'd be sexually mature even if they hit 1500 grams in just one year.

Thank you for any reply

[dumje]

I have 6 2010's....2 females....an Albino and a Lesser are over 1600 grams right now...the closest of the other 4 are about 900 grams...so yes...it happens

[GREGORY J HALL]

if you feed good size prey items every 4 to 5 days thats a normal growth rate.

[MrBig]

I have an August girl who doesn't refuse and she is just over 500 and I have an 18 month old that's at 2200 grams. I have a September girl who is up to 400 grams and she is a fairly picky eater, only live and I mix it up between rats and ASFs when she refuses rats. I hope the strong feeding response is genetic, then I can have some late season girls for 13 or early the following.

[amos1974]

Yes thats normal for girls that eat every time... I have a 8 month old spinner at 1200 and a mystic spider hatched thanksgiving at 450.

[Vittoamp]

NVM.. haha :D

[Focal]

I've noticed that my girls that are products from a WC parent, tend to grow quicker. I only have two for comparison and in may be coincidental.

[bryan2]

I know your question was about females, but ive got a male lemon pastel that has just packed on the weight. He was born mid july, if i remember correctly. (im not at home, so i cant check) Last time i weighed him was like 1.5-2 weeks ago, and he was almost 600. He's probably up closer to the 650-700 range by now, but id have to check.

I feed my ball pythons once a week, if theyll eat. They get 1 rat each that is usually about as big around as they are, give or take a little. But its the same with all my juvies; they just pack on the weight.

[Breaking Balls]

Nothing that out of the ordinary for good rat eating snakes. I have four females between 700-1000g that are about 6-7 months old.

Regards,

B