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 #2085616


Fairy Frog Mother
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 Finally getting started

on a new enclosure. Its more than 3 times her current space. Need to get her moved in soon! SO many possibilities, and she is going to LOVE exploring in it!
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10/18/09  06:54pm

 #2086286


Faery
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2085616


 Finally getting started

That`s going to be awesome when You`re done with it! I have a question. My first (and only) red Tails are just babies...Born in Jan & April of this year. So, I honestly have no clue how fast they are going to achieve adult size. I DO know that they`ve already grown a LOT, tho. I have in storage a 75 gallon breeder tank (4 ft X 18 in.) for each of them. And neither of them are ready for something that big yet. I figure that will be around 18-24 months of age. (????)
So, My question is...Once I move them into the 75`s, how long will that suffice?
Thank You,
Rayna :-)
10/20/09  08:27am

 #2086315


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: Faery   In reference to Message Id: 2086286


 Finally getting started

From experience, and others with larger collections could tell you better...
The first year they get up to oh about 2-2.5 feet. Garden Hose size around or thereabouts- depending on how often and what they are fed. Once a week is plenty. Overfeeding causes health issues later on, an a shortened lifespan.

Then the second year, they go from that to 5-6 foot pretty fast, growing like weeds and putting on bulk. I slow feeding to every ten days then, so they dont bulk up TOOOOO fast. They also go from Juvenile ( medium) Rats to Jumbos during this time. Seems like every 3 feedings I went up another size! Ha.

Then the third year they grow slightly slower, and continue to bulk up until they reach maturity around age 3. They still can continue to grow after that, but its very slow by comparison, just a couple inches a year.

All this varies with locality and individual snake. This is what Ive witnessed in my Colombian (poss crosses, but the ones I grew up with were Colombian ) Some localities max out at 6 feet, so I would assume they grow a little slower as well.

Good luck!



10/20/09  10:25am

 #2086322


Faery
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2086315


 Finally getting started

Thank You for the info. I do not power feed any of my snakes...With 35 snakes (my fiance & I combined our collections when we moved in together), I can`t afford to...LOL. But, the babies all get fed weekly and the Boas are on large adult mice right now. So, I am pretty close with my guesstimate that they will need to go into their 75 gallon tanks sometime during their second year? Guess I need to get them switched over to rats soon, too, eh? LOL.
Thanks again, Rayna :-)
10/20/09  10:40am


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