How Big Should a Coastal Be?

[Ginajam01]

G'Day All,

I'm patiently waiting for a fresh pic of Jess to post but I have noticed a lot of difference in Snake Age/Size when it comes to Coastals.

Jess is 3.5 years old and about 7 feet long. She's not fat and her head's only aboutas wide as a 10c piece.

Should she be bigger?

I feed her 3 Cokecan size rats every 10-14 days.

Thanks Jamie.

[Bouncer]

After the massive thing MOTH caught a while back, and other's I've seen I don't think they get big and fat. Mine is only a year old and she is very thin.

[serpenttongue]

Coastals do start out rather slender but when thet reach adult size they start to bulk up. Females in particular can get large solid heads and are heavily bodied. Coastals around Brisbane can reach lengths of 3m. The coastals found further north are usually smaller.

Gina, it doesnt sound right that your snake has reached 7 ft and its head is only as wide as a 10 cent piece. The head should be a lot wider. When pythons are overfed their bodies can grow too fast for the development of the head.

[Herc]

something you have to watch out for in both carpets and diamonds is something know as "pin head" this is when their bodies grown faster than their body. it is generally caused by over feeding or "pumping" you may just want to cut back the frequency of feeds a little, but if it is already 7 foot long then i'd say its to late to change the problem. you will just have to wait and see if its head can catch up with its body.

[salebrosus]

Here are two shots of the head of my Brutus.
Simone.

[Ginajam01]

Thanx for the replies, she doesn't look out of proportion, she just looks slim, she's probably only 1.5-2.5inches thick at her thickest.

My fear was always she wasn't fed enough rather than too much as it usually goes the longer between feeds rather than short.

her length does seem to have slowed down and maybe she's filling out abit more with each feed.

Does it sound likely to be 'filling out' now more so than adding length.

I want her longer but also thicker.

Thanks again
Jamie.Jack

[saikrett]

any luck getting any pics??

[Ginajam01]

Having huge trouble with crappy dig camera and video camera, hopefully tomorrow, sorry....

Jamie/Jack

[dobermanmick]

Have you accurately measured her or is this a guess ?

[Azztech]

sounds strange to me, over fed carpets would be very large in the body if they were that long at 3-4yrs. if she is fairly slender i would imagine a length or width error somewhere there. they do get very big though... ask mick - he owns a MONSTER... lol ( go the mighty brutus )

[snakegirl]

I love Brutus... see him here
http://www.aussiepythons.com/modules...view_album.php

[Ginajam01]

G'Day Mick just measured her, 6'10" nearly seven. I do a bit of fishing aswell lol

3.5kgs

How does she sound?
Cheers Jamie

[dobermanmick]

To me she sounds like her head should be bigger then a 10 cent piece is that Across her head or from the front ?

[Ginajam01]

Sorry Guys, I think I'm just a big knob! Her head's definitely bigger than 10c but her head dimensions complete are probably an inch and a half long by 3/4 -1 inch wide.

I know it's not tiny but Brutus looks like he's got a nice solid head. Jessica looks 'dainty' still. (Dainty? I am not a POOF, just can't think of the right word)

Should she 'Fill Out" in time?

Now you're going to say,'PHOTO". It's coming.

Thanx "& sorry for stupid Q's
Cheers Jamie

[dobermanmick]

That sounds very similar in size to my girl she is around 3kg and 6-7 ft long
Nice word (dainty)
Probably will fill out in time hell i did