For those of you that breed.

[AndrewGeibel]

For all those breeders out there, especially the people who just have a few clutches a year and it isn't there full time job, do you have trouble selling the snakes that you produce? In a few years I think I would like to breed some boas. I have heard that it is possible for boas to have up to 50 babies. If so, is it hard to move all of those or do people end up keeping quite a few of them. I could see myself keeping maybe 10 or 15 but I would definitely not want to breed them if there was going to be a chance of me not being able to sell them and then not being able to care for 50 boas.

[Nate]

Boas do give a pretty big litter...my advice is simply that if you don't have the space for a lot of babies, don't do it.

I'd like to get into boas one day, but i'm starting small...with ball pythons. an average clutch isn't over 10 eggs...which is quite manageable if you ask me.

[Freakie_frog]

For all those breeders out there, especially the people who just have a few clutches a year and it isn't there full time job, do you have trouble selling the snakes that you produce? In a few years I think I would like to breed some boas. I have heard that it is possible for boas to have up to 50 babies. If so, is it hard to move all of those or do people end up keeping quite a few of them. I could see myself keeping maybe 10 or 15 but I would definitely not want to breed them if there was going to be a chance of me not being able to sell them and then not being able to care for 50 boas.

All things you need to think about before you breed. If you doubt that you will be able to handle all the off spring till they sell. You might want to take a second thought about breeding

[lillyorchid]

Jamie wrote up a great thread on BP's and breeding, etc. I think this goes for ANY type of animal/snake.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=49580


I'd give a lot of thought into breeding your boa's before actually doing it. It's not always easy and it's not cheap either. Also things do happen and go wrong so you may end up spending money at a vet if you boa has a complected pregnancy or complications giving birth, etc. Some times it's easy to sell them, other times you will be caring for them for months or maybe even a year+ before someone comes along and wants it.

[AndrewGeibel]

Ya this would be many years away. My boa is only a few months old and I only have a female. I am thinking four or five years down the road. I could definitely care for 50 hatchlings with a hatchling rack. The problem I would run into would be keeping a bunch of snakes like you said for a year plus if I had to. I like the idea of breeding snakes and was just thinking of my options for the future.

[Freakie_frog]

I like the idea of breeding snakes and was just thinking of my options for the future.

Every body that enjoys this hobby does. The thing is that people don't see is like Jamie said also the time most hobbiest don't have the time or money to house, feed and clean 50 snakes. Not trying to talk you out of it just be prepared.

[Nate]

well i'm no expert in boas...but isn't 50 a bit on the high side? Isn't that similar to a 16 egg ball clutch? It typically only happens in BIG girls...so if you're breeding a female that is just up to breeding size, then you may only have to deal with 20 or so...right?

[AndrewGeibel]

I really haven't researched breeding at all so I do not know. 20 or so would definitely be handleable. When I get closer to the time to breed I will research it. I was just wondering what people's experiences have been with moving the snakes the produce have been like.

[Alice]

well i'm no expert in boas...but isn't 50 a bit on the high side? Isn't that similar to a 16 egg ball clutch? It typically only happens in BIG girls...so if you're breeding a female that is just up to breeding size, then you may only have to deal with 20 or so...right?

Our first breeding of our pastel boas happened last fall and this spring we got 20 beautiful babies. So, Nate, you were right on money for our fist clutch of boas!

[Jae iLL]

They way I'd look at it, is view it as if you're going into this planning on keeping every single baby. That way you've planned the expenses, the time, and the supplies that will be needed in that scenario. Then if you can't sell them all, you're covered. If you can, then great now your ready to breed again.. If you always just prepare for the highest extreme, then you're ready for the lowest (you sell all of them relatively soon) up until the highest, being that you have to keep em all.
Kind of like when I play poker. I just go into it thinking that I'm not going to win any money and the money that Im putting in is money that I'm "spending" to have fun. Then if I lose it all, no big deal. If I win some, it's a bonus.