how old is my snake? - Page 3

mycolorfulheart · 03-17-2008, 08:53 AM

You could approximate from when her baby gets to be 26", you'll never know for sure though.

Snake lover 3-25 · 03-17-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mycolorfulheart

You could approximate from when her baby gets to be 26", you'll never know for sure though.

ok... i think i'll do that

Stefan-A · 03-17-2008, 01:12 PM

Don't bother, growth rates depend on environmental conditions, diet and feeding intensity and to some degree it's even individual.

Snake lover 3-25 · 03-17-2008, 01:13 PM

darn...

stonyloam · 03-17-2008, 01:47 PM

Being a retired scientist, it is fun try to use the old brain to apply the little knowledge and logic that I possess to try to answer a question. I certainly can’t tell you how old your snake is, but I can take a pretty good guess at how young it isn’t. All of the stuff that follows is by observation. Wild snakes in NY are born in late July or early August, about four to five inches long, assume they add an inch or two before they go down for the winter in October. Snakes that I have found that I am pretty sure are approaching their first birthday are about 10 or 11 inches, let’s say about a foot by fall, at age 1. Assuming four or five inches of growth by age two would put them at 16 to 18 inches the next spring (first mating). Chloe was about this size last summer when she had 7 babies (about the date of her third birthday). Two gravid females that I found last summer were significantly larger, in the 20 to 22 inch class, and had about 16 babies each, so a good guess is that they were approaching their fourth birthday. So I am guessing that a 24 inch snake would have been at least four and probably five years old (or older) in the fall of 2006. In any case her expected lifespan probably improved significantly when she was taken into your family.

Wow! I agree with Stefan, how bout that?

Stefan-A · 03-17-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonyloam

Wow! I agree with Stefan, how bout that?

I had a feeling something was up when I saw that pig fly by my window..

adamanteus · 03-17-2008, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonyloam

Wow! I agree with Stefan, how bout that?

I agreed with Stefan once..... but then he changed his mind!

Stefan-A · 03-17-2008, 04:06 PM

"If you can't change your mind, are you sure you still have one?"

adamanteus · 03-17-2008, 04:12 PM

I'm pretty sure I still have one...... but most of it has calcified now.

Snake lover 3-25 · 03-17-2008, 04:15 PM

she had 18 babies that help your guess?

03-17-2008, 08:53 AM	#21 (permalink)
mycolorfulheart "First shed In Progress" Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 96 Country:	Re: how old is my snake? You could approximate from when her baby gets to be 26", you'll never know for sure though.

03-17-2008, 01:12 PM	#23 (permalink)
Stefan-A The Prince of Insufficient Light. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern Finland Posts: 4,145 Country:	Re: how old is my snake? Don't bother, growth rates depend on environmental conditions, diet and feeding intensity and to some degree it's even individual. __________________ Natura non contristatur

03-17-2008, 01:13 PM	#24 (permalink)
Snake lover 3-25 "Fourth shed In Progress" Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NC Posts: 786 Country:	Re: how old is my snake? darn... __________________ S h a n l e y

03-17-2008, 01:47 PM	#25 (permalink)
stonyloam "Third shed, A Success" Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 490 Country:	Re: how old is my snake? Being a retired scientist, it is fun try to use the old brain to apply the little knowledge and logic that I possess to try to answer a question. I certainly can’t tell you how old your snake is, but I can take a pretty good guess at how *young it isn’t. All of the stuff that follows is by observation. Wild snakes in NY are born in late July or early August, about four to five inches long, assume they add an inch or two before they go down for the winter in October. Snakes that I have found that I am pretty sure are approaching their first birthday are about 10 or 11 inches, let’s say about a foot by fall, at age 1. Assuming four or five inches of growth by age two would put them at 16 to 18 inches the next spring (first mating). Chloe was about this size last summer when she had 7 babies (about the date of her third birthday). Two gravid females that I found last summer were significantly larger, in the 20 to 22 inch class, and had about 16 babies each, so a good guess is that they were approaching their fourth birthday. So I am guessing that a 24 inch snake would have been at least four and probably five years old (or older) in the fall of 2006. In any case her expected lifespan probably improved significantly when she was taken into your family. Wow! I agree with Stefan, how bout that? __________________ Terry*

03-17-2008, 04:06 PM	#28 (permalink)
Stefan-A The Prince of Insufficient Light. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern Finland Posts: 4,145 Country:	Re: how old is my snake? "If you can't change your mind, are you sure you still have one?" __________________ Natura non contristatur

03-17-2008, 04:12 PM	#29 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 6,681 Country:	Re: how old is my snake? I'm pretty sure I still have one...... but most of it has calcified now. __________________ James.

03-17-2008, 04:15 PM	#30 (permalink)
Snake lover 3-25 "Fourth shed In Progress" Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NC Posts: 786 Country:	Re: how old is my snake? she had 18 babies that help your guess? __________________ S h a n l e y

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode