Visible obesity...

[Zephyr]

I've come across this pic numerous times and was wondering: Is THIS an obese snake?
http://ngaherps.com.previewyoursite.com/Plains.JPG
As in, an example of what should be avoided.

[GartersRock]

I would think so. I really can't stand overweight animals. I keep all my animals (2 dogs, turtle and all the snakes) at as ideal a weight as possible. For some people thats skinny. I think they are just used to overweight...
But yeah. I would say thats obese.
Is that one of Scotts snakes from the Reptiles article? He looks like a "halter" quarter horse. lol! (Another thing I can't stand for you who are horse people)

[ssssnakeluvr]

that's one of Scott's older breeders. she is a little on the large side...

[adamanteus]

Yes, that snake is overweight. You can see it particularly in the neck region.

[Stefan-A]

Double chin?

I don't think garters are supposed to be shaped like puff adders either. ;)

[Zephyr]

Yeah, I noticed the neck and literally said:
"...Double chin?"
I've noticed that healthy garters have a little pudge around the neck, but to me that's a little overkill.

[Lori P]

Is that one of Scotts snakes from the Reptiles article? He looks like a "halter" quarter horse. lol! (Another thing I can't stand for you who are horse people)

Oh, amen to that!!! One of the girls I work with is a QH person and she's always showing me pics of her friends' halter horses... and I just can't find them even remotely attractive.

As for the snake, ahhhh, yeah, even I can see she's a bit pudgy. Good idea to show us, Kyle, that tells me what to look for!!

[anji1971]

Yep, that's definitely a chubby one!!
Deejay almost began to look like that for a bit, but as soon as I noticed her chin starting to hang down, I cut back on her food, and now she looks just right!
Certainly a good thing to watch out for.

[zooplan]

obesity or good condition?
Thats hard to tell.
I know that lots of Scotts females are in a similar condition.
His homepage is full of pictures like this.
He has good breeding success for years, but I don´t can tell anything about the average age of his snakes.
I think the photo is from his oldest breeder, died in an age of 9 years.

[Stefan-A]

Yep, that's definitely a chubby one!!
Deejay almost began to look like that for a bit, but as soon as I noticed her chin starting to hang down, I cut back on her food, and now she looks just right!
Certainly a good thing to watch out for.
My vagrans twins had a period when the white markings, that are usually only visible when the skin is stretched, were visible all the time.

They were still growing, so the problem solved itself.

[anji1971]

Hmmm, I never really thought about them doing that while growing. Deejay did go on a major growth spurt in the last few months........I'll keep an eye on that. :)

[Zephyr]

So, ultimately, the effects of snake obesity are premature death and liver failure, correct?
Like I said, I notice a bit of pudge on some of my snakes and strive for it in all of my specimens, but that's just ridiculous.

[enigma200316]

yeah thats deff. over the top but I think your snakes should have a little gurth especially when brumating...........:)