Growth chart?

[Duffyh]

Hello Everyone,
I'm new to this forum. A neighbor gave me a baby Garter in July. It's very tiny but has been eating worms the entire time I've had it. I'm curious as to how quickly they grow because it's still quite small. Seems healthy and very active. Does anyone know where I can find a growth chart?

[Stefan-A]

The growth rate depends on what and how much it is fed, so there is no real growth chart available. You might want to switch to a fish diet, a worms only diet isn't good in the long run. About 20% of its bodyweight in fish weekly, or 5-10% in rodents should give a good growth rate.

[abcat1993]

Mine has been growing about 1 inch per month or more. One month it grew almost 3 inches, but another (before it started eating consistently) it grew about half an inch, so it varies.

[Elliot]

I've had my ribbon snake 11 months, it has maybe grown 4-6 inches in the entire time I've had it on an all rodent diet. Go figure. :confused:

[abcat1993]

Feed it worms! Or both, that's what I did. And then feed it one fish randomly and it'll grow like mine.

[greyhawk]

It will probably depend on if it is a male or female. Females grow larger, and I would assume grow faster, but I do not know if they grow considerably faster, someone else might know.

[abcat1993]

Well, mine is growing like a female (I think). But I doubt it has grown this last month.

[Elliot]

Feed it worms! Or both, that's what I did. And then feed it one fish randomly and it'll grow like mine.

Ribbons are pickier eaters, it'll only eat fish and mice.

[GarterGirl]

Welcome to the forum, Duffyh!

[abcat1993]

I guess it's never too late. Welcome Duffyh.

[drache]

Good to meet you Duffyh.
My Garters all grow at a different rate, even though they get the same food.
They growth spurt at different times.
I've never charted any of it though.

[ssssnakeluvr]

Sex also has a part in size growth....female grow thicker and stockier than males....i have a pair of red spots, the both are a year and a half old, the male is around 20 inches, the female 16-18, but is stockier. they are eating f/t pinkie rats every week.

[abcat1993]

Do females grow significantly faster than males? Because mine has grown an inch or more every month for the last couple months, pretty much after he/she started eating constantly and consistently.

[Sid]

Hi Duffyh,
I have 5 female sirtalis born 7/4/2006 and they each measured 5" at birth. Today's measurements ranged from 9.6" to 11.2". They are all feed the same day, same type and count of food. The more active ones are the smaller ones. The more relaxed ones are the largest ones.

Hope this is some help to you,
Sid

[abcat1993]

So do you think the active ones are just burning up all their resources (vitamins, minerals, carbs, whatever makes them grow) faster or what?

[Cazador]

Activity levels are certainly part of the explanation, but it also involves individual variation, like how much growth hormone, thyroid hormone, stress hormones, sex steroids, etc. that an individual produces.

[abcat1993]

You're right, and just think about us humans, we all grow differently.