Here's my experience with breeding younger/smaller females over the last 10+ years ... I've given this spiel a few times before, so it might be redundant for a lot of you guys.
According to my records ...
1. When I breed females in their 3rd winter at 1350 grams and up, my success rate is generally between 85% and 90% (ie. About nine out of every ten girls that are bred will lay a viable clutch)
2. When I breed females in their 2nd winter regardless of their weight, my success rate is 10% (ie. About one in ten that I attempt will lay a viable clutch of eggs).
3. Just about every single one of my girls lay a number of eggs equivalent to the 1/3 of their body weight divided by 100 rule ... Ie a 1500 gram female will lay 5 eggs, a 1000 gram female will lay 3 - 4 eggs ... Give or take.
4. Females bred at under 1500 grams or younger than their third winter will have smaller clutches and generally never produce more than 4 - 6 viable eggs a clutch no matter how large they grow later in life ... For example, in 1998 I bred a 1200 gram female het albino in her second winter ... She laid 4 eggs and produced 1 albino ... She's now over 3500 grams and still only lays about 6 viable eggs a year while other 3500 gram girls that I have that were bred for the first time at 1500 grams and over lay 10 and even 12 egg clutches for me.
5. Many times, females that I attempt to breed in their second winter will go off feed for a significant amount of time once introduced to a male ... And if they don't end up producing, that fast has a severe impact on my ability to maximize their potential breeding size for the following season when their odds of producing are much higher.
Do I breed females in their second winter and under 1500 grams? ... I sure do ... I take the shot every year with a very small number of girls that I personally feel have a shot at going ... After years of doing this, I feel that I have a sense for a female that has a chance over a young girl that will give me nothing.
Have I seen any negative impacts to the health of a female ball python by breeding her young or attempting to breed her young? ... Absolutely not ... In my experience, if they're not ready to lay eggs, they won't ... I've never had a female become egg bound by being bred too young or too small, but I've had several older girls that have become egg bound from twisted oviducts.
Do I suggest breeding females in their second winter? ... Not for me to say ... My personal feeling is that it's for each individual keeper to educate themselves and make that decision ... I do what's best for ME and MY COLLECTION ... The only thing that I suggest is for others to do what's best for THEM and THEIR COLLECTION. There's a lot of judgmental people in this hobby/business, don't let them bother you ... Experiment, try things, learn ... Rise and fall on your own experiences ... Don't let a so called "internet expert" prevent you from trying something "outside the box".
Hope this helps.
-adam
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