Possible Accelerated Breeding Plans

[Eric Alan]

There's a chance that the plans I've been making in regards to breeding may be able to be shifted to a year sooner than anticipated. The schedule all along has been to grow up my four girls this year, purchase a pair of multi-gene males next year, and hopefully have my first clutch the following year. Tonight, my wife brought up the idea of purchasing my males in the next few months (breeder size instead). We'd then pair them with a handful of adult normal females to have our first clutches start hatching next season. The logic is to have a "practice run" with breeding/incubating/hatching/growing/selling/shipping/etc before going "all-in" with the girls I have now the following year. This also gives me a chance to grow my collection with hold-backs next year.

Logistically, besides the animal purchases of course, this involves making a few husbandry-type purchases sooner than anticipated, but that can be budgeted for. Of course, this would all need to be done in a quarantine setting away from the rest of my girls, but that can be planned for. My question is more related to the time frame needed to actually produce clutches next season. Assuming I spend the next two months looking for males and purchasing supplies, is it realistic to think I'd be able to be preparing to breed in mid-November and start pairing by December with any success?

I'm trying to not get my hopes up too much with things possibly moving more rapidly after the awesome conversation I had with my wife because generally, good things come to those who wait. In this instance, though, I'm trying to be as prepared as I can if this good thing is in fact possible and does happen quickly.

Thanks for your help/advice/insight in advance!

[MootWorm]

I don't see why it wouldn't be feasible. As long as you get your butt in gear and start making some racks You'd have some down time between searching, purchasing and breeding to get your incubator up and running. I say go for it! Although I don't have any experience with breeding, so take everything I say with a grain of salt lol.

[waddada]

LOL, Im currently doing the same thin., females this year, multi gene males next year, and hopefully a shot at breeding the year after. Im also debating getting a nice breeder size male and afew breeder females within the next few months. Its a tough choice but i say if you have the funds go for it. Nothing wrong with getting a little experience while the girls are still young

[Tigerhawk]

I agree with the idea of getting the normal breeding size females. And breeding them to multi gene males. That way you should get some nice clutches and learn the ends and outs of breeding while your females are growing. I myself am doing that myself this year. AsI have two normal females that are of breeding size this year. That I plan to breed to my pastel lesser and my spider. I wish you the best, just have fun.I know I'am having a ball.

[MrLang]

I'm gonna go against the grain and recommend holding off and following the original plan. I'm also of the belief that the hobby would benefit from less 'get a multi-gene male and breed it to a million normals.' I'd like to see people selectively breeding quality, knowing when to label an animal as a pet, and not just pumping out as many snakes as possible. It's never going to happen, but in terms of opinion it is difficult to side with this strategy.

[MootWorm]

I'm gonna go against the grain and recommend holding off and following the original plan. I'm also of the belief that the hobby would benefit from less 'get a multi-gene male and breed it to a million normals.' I'd like to see people selectively breeding quality, knowing when to label an animal as a pet, and not just pumping out as many snakes as possible. It's never going to happen, but in terms of opinion it is difficult to side with this strategy.

From what I gathered, the OP isn't planning on churning out tons of babies, but rather using this as a dry run to experience breeding before trying it with the combos he's shooting for. That doesn't mean he'll buy the cheapest, lowest quality normals with whatever multigene male he can get his hands on. I don't think there's anything wrong with shopping for quality normals to breed with another quality male to learn the ins and outs before working with higher end animals.

[Eric Alan]

I'm gonna go against the grain and recommend holding off and following the original plan. I'm also of the belief that the hobby would benefit from less 'get a multi-gene male and breed it to a million normals.' I'd like to see people selectively breeding quality, knowing when to label an animal as a pet, and not just pumping out as many snakes as possible. It's never going to happen, but in terms of opinion it is difficult to side with this strategy.

While I can appreciate this response, I'm not sure why you "second leveled" my idea. I have no intention of compromising the quality of the males that I am selecting just because I may be purchasing them sooner than originally planned. Also, I question your thinking on how doing this would be considered "pumping out as many snakes as possible", which in turn would compromise the integrity of the hobby when I have selected quality animals to begin with. My intentions are two-fold: 1) to gain experience breeding and 2) to grow my collection from the inside through hold-backs. Is there something inherently wrong with doing this using normal females in my first season when my morph girls are still growing up?