Breeder females and irregular eating habits

Good day all i have a few questions as i take the plunge into breeding, so here goes.

Most of my females are pretty much up to weight, 1400-2000 grams, however only 1 feeds regularly except when she is about to shed. The other 2 problem feeders only feed about once 1 month or so, and sometimes even more sporadic then that. However they arent losing weight, or they arent losing a lot. So heres my question.

Since breeding them expends their energy and resuming their feed post breeding/egg laying brings them back to healthy levels, would it be advisable to go ahead and breed these 2 ladies who, to me, seem to not want to eat as often? Would that pose a risk to their health in recuperation? Do you guys not breed them because of their feeding habits? Or fix their eating habits before breeding them?

Sorry for the long wall of text but i could use more insights and information. Thanks alot in advance.

From what I have seen when they start breeding they will start eating like crazy so I would say as long as they dont look thin at 1400+ grams I would start breeding them.

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Originally Posted by jason79

From what I have seen when they start breeding they will start eating like crazy so I would say as long as they dont look thin at 1400+ grams I would start breeding them.

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Perhaps i should post pictures of my females to get feedback on what 'thin' means. haha. Im not sure if my large female is just too fat or just right and if my other female is normal or too thin.

Oh the relativity. Gah.

I am not breeding yet, I have been doing research. The weight issue is a big one it is relative to length.

The chart I have states that at 2000gm she should be 47 inches or a bit shorter but not longer. And 1400 is below the bottom of the scale. 1500 is at 43 inches, It sounds like one at least is small.

About eating I have a big female that has been breed many times she has not eaten since December but at over 3860 gm and 64 inches she would not have issues with breeding at all. This is typical for females so do some don't but it isn't uncommon.

Ian,

In my opinion ball pythons should be fed much more and more foten than most other types of snakes. If there is one constant thing about ball pythons is that they will eventually go off of food. Therefore I suggest that we feed our ball pythons much more often than most people feed them. I almost always offer my adult females another rat after they eat the first one. Keeping your ball pythons a little on the h4eavy side will only buy you insurance when they do go off of food.

As far as whether you should breed your females due to their lack of weight, that is a decision only you can make. If for some reason you think they are too lean then you will only be doing the right thing for your snake to wait until the next season to breed her.

Feel free to call me anytime if you need help with other issues. My cell is 408.981.6694

Good luck with your breeding season.

Brian Gundy / For Goodness Snakes

Brian,

How do you feel about the alternative - feeding smaller prey animals to try and stop them going on fasts in the first place for example?


dr del

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Originally Posted by For Goodness Snakes

Ian,

In my opinion ball pythons should be fed much more and more foten than most other types of snakes. If there is one constant thing about ball pythons is that they will eventually go off of food. Therefore I suggest that we feed our ball pythons much more often than most people feed them. I almost always offer my adult females another rat after they eat the first one. Keeping your ball pythons a little on the h4eavy side will only buy you insurance when they do go off of food.

As far as whether you should breed your females due to their lack of weight, that is a decision only you can make. If for some reason you think they are too lean then you will only be doing the right thing for your snake to wait until the next season to breed her.

Feel free to call me anytime if you need help with other issues. My cell is 408.981.6694

Good luck with your breeding season.

Brian Gundy / For Goodness Snakes

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Thanks very much Brian! But sometimes i leave the rat in and they only eat them hours later, and sometimes not at all. so its rather frustrating and costly since i make trips down to the petstore to get the rats. i have no qualms bout feeding them more but they dont seem to readily accept them.

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Originally Posted by dr del

Brian,

How do you feel about the alternative - feeding smaller prey animals to try and stop them going on fasts in the first place for example?


dr del

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I've not heard about that idea.

Brian Gundy / For Goodness Snakes

I feed small rats or smaller to everything and I offer snakes under 1000 grams two times a week totaling 15% of the snakes body weight.
Large meals are a thing of the past for me and my snakes :)