20" is very small for a yearling ...more...

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Posted by patricia sherman on October 14, 2001 at 22:09:14:

In Reply to: Re: Baby Rat Snakes posted by Mysket on October 03, 2001 at 00:44:30:

I doubt that this baby is a yearling. If it is E.o.obsoleta (the nominate subspecies, and the largest) then I'd estimate it to be about five months old, or maybe less than that. I have four babies that hatched Sept 1/2000, their present sizes are: 29.6", 94 grams; 33", 122 grams; 32.5", 141 grams; 41.5", 190 grams. The size at hatching was about 3" difference between the smallest and the largest; the smallest hatched at 12" and the largest at 15", but I'd say the largest was exceptional. Of these four, there are three males, the smallest being the female.

Considering the above sizes, I'd say that the average length for a 13-month-old is about 34". From that I subtract the hatchling length of ~13.5", to determine that they've each grown approximately 21.5" in 13 months, which yields an average growth rate of about 1.66"/month. Multiply that by 5, and the result is 8.33", which yields about 20" length when added to the length of a small hatchling.

Hope that this helps you.

Patricia

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: I doubt that this baby is a yearling. If it is E.o.obsoleta (the nominate subspecies, and the largest) then I'd estimate it to be about five months old, or maybe less than that. I have four babies that hatched Sept 1/2000, their present sizes are: 29.6", 94 grams; 33", 122 grams; 32.5", 141 grams; 41.5", 190 grams. The size at hatching was about 3" difference between the smallest and the largest; the smallest hatched at 12" and the largest at 15", but I'd say the largest was exceptional. Of these four, there are three males, the smallest being the female. : Considering the above sizes, I'd say that the average length for a 13-month-old is about 34". From that I subtract the hatchling length of ~13.5", to determine that they've each grown approximately 21.5" in 13 months, which yields an average growth rate of about 1.66"/month. Multiply that by 5, and the result is 8.33", which yields about 20" length when added to the length of a small hatchling. : Hope that this helps you. : Patricia

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