Growth Rate per Year?

[Ameron]

Realizing that this varies with locale & food availability.

Caught two Northwesterns today. One is about 17 inches long, the other is smaller, maybe 13 inches long. Both are from wetlands near a river, with abundant food & cover.

Since they average 9.5 inches at birth, would you guess that the larger is a 2006 hatchling, and that the smaller is a 2007 hatchling?

[adamanteus]

I really wouldn't like to guess at their age, Don. As you say, so many different factors can effect their growth rate.

[drache]

they could be male and female, same year

[ssssnakeluvr]

9.5 inches at birth??? where did you read that?? Northwesterns are smaller than that when born...around 5 inches. Not knowing the sex doesn't help. at 17 inches it could be around 3 years old or 2 if female, and 13 inches would be 1 to 2 depending on sex....also depending on what their diet is...only real way to tell how old a snake is to raise it from birth.

[ssssnakeluvr]

also....just want to make sure they are northwesterns...red spots, t s concinnus are around 8 inches when born, probably the largest babies...except for t gigas, the giant garter....

[zooplan]

I´ve seen neonates up 10 " and 3 gram. so both could be born this year.
My albino red sided for example is now 19 weeks old, 16 inch long and 20 gram but she was very small, only about 6" and less than one gram at her birthday.
BTW: Do you talk about snouth-vent-length or about body length including the tail like me?

[ssssnakeluvr]

northwesterns are a bit smaller as babies...some western species have larger babies...

[adamanteus]

When you say Northwesterns you mean ordinoides, right? I've always known these to be quite small babies, maybe 6 inches or less.

[ssssnakeluvr]

yes. ordinoides, the babies I have had are small....5 inches