Runt of the litter?

[Invisible Snake]

Hey guys I wanted to know when breeders refer to a snake as the "runt of the litter" does it specifically mean a problem feeder or does it also apply to every snake that is a slow grower, or born with a birth defect, etc.?

[Stefan-A]

Hey guys I wanted to know when breeders refer to a snake as the "runt of the litter" does it specifically mean a problem feeder or does it also apply to every snake that is a slow grower, or born with a birth defect, etc.?

Can't speak for the breeders, but I usually associate the term "runt" with an individual that's smaller and weaker than the others at birth, perhaps sickly, tends to be unable to successfully compete for food with the others (among birds and mammals, at least) and as a result, it lags behind developmentally. Deformed and problem eaters are in my opinion something different.

[snake man]

Thats what i think as the runt the lowest on the chain and cant really fend for itself in the wild would die very fast.

[EasternGirl]

I referred to Perseus as my runt...he was a bit smaller than the other babies and very thin...he didn't want to eat right away and needed to put some weight on. Of course, now he is the biggest pig in the bunch!

[Steveo]

My family accepted a "runt" puppy for free when I was young and it grew up to be the largest dog from that litter. I associate the term more with size than anything else.

I don't know how snake breeders use the term but if it's active and eating well I wouldn't worry about the label. Some snakes just don't have that "eat until I burst" food drive and will naturally grow more slowly. My female Eastern is that way - she always eats but only about half of what the other scrubs eat (I give them large portions every 3 or 4 days). She's healthy and growing and quite active, but some of the others are nearly twice her mass because they pack it in like they've never had food before. I expect her to catch up eventually and she may need an extra year before breeding, but it'll happen. She had no problem competing for food when I fed them all together (though her brother did bite her once), she just didn't eat as much.

[kibakiba]

My runt, Azul, is my stronger baby, while my Strongest is now lagging behind the others.

[Steveo]

I don't know how snake breeders use the term but if it's active and eating well I wouldn't worry about the label. Some snakes just don't have that "eat until I burst" food drive and will naturally grow more slowly. My female Eastern is that way - she always eats but only about half of what the other scrubs eat (I give them large portions every 3 or 4 days). She's healthy and growing and quite active, but some of the others are nearly twice her mass because they pack it in like they've never had food before. I expect her to catch up eventually and she may need an extra year before breeding, but it'll happen. She had no problem competing for food when I fed them all together (though her brother did bite her once), she just didn't eat as much.

Of course, since I talked her up yesterday, she didn't eat :P Maybe the pinky parts weren't scented well enough. I'll offer some silversides tonight.

[Invisible Snake]

Is being a "runt" a genetic/hereditary thing that could be passed on to the offspring?

[Stefan-A]

Is being a "runt" a genetic/hereditary thing that could be passed on to the offspring?

I have no idea.

edit:
I find it possible, but unlikely.

Dog breeders appear to strongly advise against breeding runts, especially to each other.