Ready to breed?

[djslurp1200]

I have 3 beautiful female normals that I plan to breed with my pastel male. My male is about a year old and my last female I had acquired into my collection (FREE) is about a year and a half old and is a little over three feet long. Now I am told the magic number is 1200grams weight to start breeding... Given its size and length if I get it weighed and it does infact weigh 1200grams or more would it be possible to start breeding this season? This is my only female closest to breeding size.

Also, any recommendations on a scale that is accurate for weighing my snakes?

[Uncle Festae]

I'd recommend getting them all accurately sexed before moving on with any breeding attempts

[djslurp1200]

I've had them all probed.

[elevatethis]

From everyone I've talked to that has bred balls pythons, the general concensus is that its better to wait until the girls are at very least 1500 grams.

If I were you, I'd give them all another year. At 1200 grams, you could have her at well over 2000 grams by next year, which will provide a much better chance at getting more, viable eggs rather than rolling the dice on slim odds with an underweight female.

Adam has some good thoughts on weights of breeding girls...maybe he'll chime in...but then again, he don't know 100!

[Nate]

I've got a 1200g female that I feel is too small to breed. Some say 1000g is the magic number, and others say don't do it till she hits at least 1500g...I am going to stick with 1500g+

Breeding is not something you want to jump into. If your biggest girl is 1200 grams, then IMO you should wait till next year to fatten her up a bit more.

[JLC]

Besides her size, a year and a half seems VERY young to be starting out. That might be ok for a male, but females need a lot more time to mature, even if they did put on weight fast.

[djslurp1200]

thank you for the helpful pointers!

Yeah, I can't wait I am just so excited. Hopefully she's at that 1500grams or more. I'm not sure though. I'm going to get her weighed to find out sometime very soon...However next year my second largest should be ready as well so either way next year I should definetly have a better chance at hatching some balls.

Any reccomendation on an accurate scale?

[djslurp1200]

Do you think there could be some seriouse health problems that could occur if she was to be bred even if she is at the weight and size? ( age related, being young and all)

I'm not planning on breeding her this year. Just trying to find out the possibility of it. Next year is when i plan to get it crackin!

[elevatethis]

They tend to slug out (drop bad, unfertilized eggs) when they are on the thin side. Breeding is very taxing on their system and fat reserves, and many don't feed during breeding season, so your 1200gram girl now could be 1000-1100 when it comes time to actually ovulate and develop eggs. Just keep your temps up over the winter and feed the crap out of her, getting ready for next year. It will be here before you know it.

[Nate]

Any reccomendation on an accurate scale?

Ebay Digiweigh

http://cgi.ebay.com/52-DIGITAL-POSTA...QQcmdZViewItem

Weighs up to 52lbs, weighs in grams or lbs
22 bucks plus 13 S&H....great price and perfect for ball pythons...