I am really curious...
2006-10-02 09:36:58 · 12 answers · asked by jenjira1995 3 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Im just curious
and i would like serious answers...
cutting them in half is really dumb and i would not like that as an answer...
2006-10-02 09:51:34 · update #1
i have another question....
how long can snakes last without food.
2006-10-02 11:16:54 · update #2
Everybody's answer here is wrong in some way, shape or form. You can't tell how old a rattlesnake by counting it's rattles since it adds a new rattle every time it sheds, which can occur 3-4 times a year, or more, depending on the age. A snake will grow regardless of how much they're being fed, so size can't really determine a snake's age either. A snake with a maximum length of 6 feet may only grow to about 4 or 5 feet, depending on genetics.
There really is no certain way to tell a snake's age. Sorry.
To answer your other question, a snake can last a substantial amount of time without food. African rock pythons, who are known to eat antelope and gazelle, can survive for, at least, an entire month without eating after one big meal. It all depends on the snake's metabolism and how much they eat at one sitting. Don't go starving your snake though. If the snake lives off of rodents (mice and rats), you should feed it at least once every two weeks.
2006-10-02 17:48:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's no definitive way to tell a snakes age. Most snakes under 18months of age can be sexed manually, after 18 months it usually requires special probes, so that may give you some indication. The best way is probably to identify the snake species and compare it with know ages and lengths, this can give you a close estimation. (Unfortunately the number of "rattles" or "buttons" on a rattlesnake's tail does not indicate how old it is. New "rattles" or "buttons" are formed each time a snake sheds it skin (which they do much more frequently when they are younger-more than once a year) and the rattles will break off from time to time.)
2006-10-02 10:00:20 · answer #2 · answered by ozymndius 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No real to tell the age of a snake, you can make a sorta guess by thier size but the more they eat the bigger they grow so an older snake will be smaller than a well fed younger snake. I have two and one is six months older than the other but he has been sick on and off all of his life and has not eaten as much and every time he did not eat I gave the other one the rat so not to waste it and the older one is 1/3 the size of the younger.
2006-10-02 10:42:39 · answer #3 · answered by LisaMarie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You really can't tell. A snake can be 5 years old but pretty small if it's only been fed every 3 weeks. On the other hand, one the same age is going to be much bigger if it's been fed every week.
2006-10-02 09:47:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the only snake that i know how to tell is a rattlesnake...you count the buttons on the rattle...i guess by the other peoples answer that you can only tell on other snakes if you kill them..?!
2006-10-02 09:42:30 · answer #5 · answered by noseyroseysillywillie 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Cut it in half it has rings like a tree.
2006-10-02 09:38:23 · answer #6 · answered by predator 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Cut it in half and count the rings???
Oh wait.... thats a tree! Never mind/
2006-10-02 09:39:27 · answer #7 · answered by HSK's mama 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can check it's birth certificate, or cut it in half and count the rings.
2006-10-02 09:39:11 · answer #8 · answered by Chris C 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
By counting his teeth. Older snakes have more teeth.
2006-10-02 09:39:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Cut it in half and count the rings...duh!
2006-10-02 09:38:09 · answer #10 · answered by Raide UK 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋