Record Keeping
An important aspect of snake keeping, especially so for breeding, is the keeping of records. When keeping more than one snake, it can very quickly prove tricky to remember when they were last fed, last cleaned out, and when they last defecated. Accurate record keeping can give immediate indications of a number of possible health problems, including excessive weight loss due to fasting, or lack of defecation - this can be an indication of temperature problems, for example, as snakes need the correct level of heat to digest food.
In terms of breeding plans, weekly weights are a very important record to be noted - as well as being sexually mature in terms of age, females must be in peak physical health, and carrying enough weight, as the process is very straining on their bodies - breeding underweight snakes can cause a number of health problems, or in worst case scenarios, death. The recommended minimum is around 1500 grams. Accurate record keeping can predict whether a female will be ready for the coming breeding season or not. The rule is not so strict for males - they reach sexual maturity at an early age (2nd winter / breeding season) and as they are not the ones producing and laying eggs, don't need to be anywhere near the same weight - 700 grams seems to be a guide weight, but many snakes have successfully mated under this weight. They must however be in good overall health, as mating can be very tiring for them. It's a tough life...
As well as keeping a historical record of weekly weights, another record to be kept is historical feeding activity. I currently feed my snakes prey that weighs 10-15% of the snake, on a 7-10 day schedule. Obviously as the weight of the snake changes from week-to-week, so does the size of the prey being offered. A quick bit of spreadsheet wizardry will automatically calculate the correct sized rodent for the next meal, saving me the job of counting fingers and toes.
I mentioned previously that Royal Pythons have a bit of negative press for being picky eaters - this is often an indication of them feeling insecure due to incorrect housing setups or too frequent handling, rather than them passing on perfectly good food for no reason, however, they do periodically fast for unspecified durations - often lengthy. Both males and females are known to frequently fast throughout breeding season, which is another reason females must be of a healthy weight prior to breeding. Periodic fasting is a perfectly natural behaviour, and detrimental health effects are relatively rare - however it is sensible to maintain accurate record keeping to closely monitor for excessive loss of weight, so action can be taken where absolutely required.
In terms of breeding plans, weekly weights are a very important record to be noted - as well as being sexually mature in terms of age, females must be in peak physical health, and carrying enough weight, as the process is very straining on their bodies - breeding underweight snakes can cause a number of health problems, or in worst case scenarios, death. The recommended minimum is around 1500 grams. Accurate record keeping can predict whether a female will be ready for the coming breeding season or not. The rule is not so strict for males - they reach sexual maturity at an early age (2nd winter / breeding season) and as they are not the ones producing and laying eggs, don't need to be anywhere near the same weight - 700 grams seems to be a guide weight, but many snakes have successfully mated under this weight. They must however be in good overall health, as mating can be very tiring for them. It's a tough life...
As well as keeping a historical record of weekly weights, another record to be kept is historical feeding activity. I currently feed my snakes prey that weighs 10-15% of the snake, on a 7-10 day schedule. Obviously as the weight of the snake changes from week-to-week, so does the size of the prey being offered. A quick bit of spreadsheet wizardry will automatically calculate the correct sized rodent for the next meal, saving me the job of counting fingers and toes.
I mentioned previously that Royal Pythons have a bit of negative press for being picky eaters - this is often an indication of them feeling insecure due to incorrect housing setups or too frequent handling, rather than them passing on perfectly good food for no reason, however, they do periodically fast for unspecified durations - often lengthy. Both males and females are known to frequently fast throughout breeding season, which is another reason females must be of a healthy weight prior to breeding. Periodic fasting is a perfectly natural behaviour, and detrimental health effects are relatively rare - however it is sensible to maintain accurate record keeping to closely monitor for excessive loss of weight, so action can be taken where absolutely required.