I'm housing my sister's spider female this season to breed to my pastel. The female is an '08 and completely empty sits at 1460g. She ate a small rat readily a few days ago (thought she'd take some time to settle in, but noooo. This girl wanted food!) and with a rat and some poop in her belly she's sitting at 1566g. Now, I've got 3 girls of my own breeding this season. One is 2000g (2005). The others are 1600g (2007) (well she was a little under 1600 in November anyway. Haven't weighed her recently) and 1350g (2007). My 1350g (probably closer to 1400g now) pinstripe breeds anytime you put a male in her tub, usually within 6 hours. Of course, I'm not sure if she'll go this year as I haven't been able to feel follicles. She won't relax enough for me to palpate properly. (she squirms and hisses)

Now, my sister's spider is a great feeder. My sister wants to wait until her girl is at least 1500g while empty. A difference of 40g. She'll probably gain that pretty fast the way she's eating but I wonder how many people actually follow the 2 years old and 1500g "rule" to the number. Would you introduce a male to a 1450g female? What about a 1300g female that was 3 years old? (a year older than recommended as the minimum age?) Do you wait until they are at a higher weight than 1500g no matter their age? Would you breed a female that was 1500g but less than 2 years old?

Just some questions floating around in the ole' noggin. Just got me thinking about my own girls and how they are progressing in their breeding this season.