Growth rates to achieve breeding in 1 or 2 years
My understanding is that generally speaking, you want males at 500g+ and females at 1500g+.
1. Regarding growth rates, what's the chance of getting a male from baby (~100g) to 500g in 12 months? My understanding is that you have pretty good odds for achieving this growth rate (better than 50%?).
2. Regarding females, I understand they can grow to be able to breed in 2 years, sometimes. What are the chances of getting one to grow from about 500g to 1500g in one year? Really this is a question of growth rate. That is, do they tend to put on more weight the first year or second, or same? Same question in a different way, if you are trying to grow a female to breed in 2 years, what is your "on track" weight at the end of year 1 to hit 1500 at end of year 2, given typical growth rates?
I know every snake is different so please I'm just looking for what is most typical.
Thanks.
Re: Growth rates to achieve breeding in 1 or 2 years
It really all depends on how the snake is eating. With males, getting them 500g in their first year is extremely likely as long as you have a good eater.
With females its a little harder to judge. Its not uncommon for a female to plateau at around 1000g for a while (I swear they turn into teenage girls trying to watch their figure). How quickly they snap out of it will play a huge role in how fast they hit 1500g. There are also girls who never stop eating around 1000g, those will naturally hit size sooner.
You also have to take into account genetics of the snake. I have a 6 year old proven breeder female pewter that is barely 1400g (I think she hit 1500g once when gravid). Shes given me 6 good eggs almost every year and is at a healthy weight for her size, shes just a small girl. I also have a couple girls who are on the large size (they were over 2000g at 2 years) who probably hit 1500g in 18 months but it was all length. They needed another year to fill out before I was comfortable breeding them even though they were technically to size.
Re: Growth rates to achieve breeding in 1 or 2 years
To answer number 2 first, you keep them on a 5 day feeding cycle with appropriate size feeders until about 700+ grams and then switch them to once a week. Always give them as big a prey item as they can comfortably handle. Whether or not you make it in two years is entirely up to the snake. If she stays on feed the whole time you may make it. If she hits the wall at 1000 grams as many do and she goes off feed, it could be 3 years.
Regarding a male, you can breed at 500 grams and 7 months old but be aware that males will often go off feed when they start breeding and if the don't go back on for a period of time it could be a problem. If a 1000 gram snake doesn't eat for 4 months, they have a lot more body stores than a 500 gram snake.
Best of luck to you.
Re: Growth rates to achieve breeding in 1 or 2 years
Quote:
Originally Posted by
coreydelong
We have August hatchlings that are over 500g. A good eater will have no issues gaining 100-150g per month.
This goes for larger females as well. We have put 800+g on females that laid eggs last May/June/July.
Feeding is every Monday and Thursday.
do you keep feeding them twice a week? even the adults and not only untill they reach 500 grams?
Re: Growth rates to achieve breeding in 1 or 2 years
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ARBallMorphs
do you keep feeding them twice a week? even the adults and not only untill they reach 500 grams?
Everyone gets offered Monday and Thursday except my established proven breeder males that are over 1000g. They get offered once a week, or between pairing rotations. Big 1000+g males get paired to 3 females in a row for up to 3 days each, so they may be out of their tubs for 9 days. If they get the job done earlier then they get back in their tub sooner to feed. Kinda an incentive plan to get their locks in.... lol!!
Small males..... 500g- 600g.... will only see 1-2 females and then get back to their tubs and get offered a meal.
The Nuclear Pinstripe is 865g and was out of his tub for 7 days and locked 3 females. Back in his tub yesterday and had his meal. Enchi Pied is hovering around 950g now. He ate 10 minutes after he was taken out of his last females tub. He's a beast!!
Re: Growth rates to achieve breeding in 1 or 2 years
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ARBallMorphs
oh wow thanks alot :)
I just switched my every bp i have that was above 500 grams to once a week cause alot of people said to do that, as that would be better for them...
I guess i will start offering them twice a week again and let them decide if they want to eat or not.
Thanks again.
Andrew
This is only my way of operating my feeding schedule. I feed no more than small rats... even to 3000g females. Small frequent meals seem to get the job done here.
My 300-600g males get no more than 30-40g crawler rats twice a week.
