Breeding Small Males

So I am curious. I see a lot of pics where people have a male in with a breeder female and the males look teensy compared to her. I know that technically they would both be up to weight, and sometimes males breed smaller than you would think-but what are the risks of putting a male that small in with a girl that big? Do the females ever eat the males? There's been documented cases of BPs eating each other, so I was just curious as to what kind of risk factor there is. Do you just sit and watch them to make sure nothing happens?

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Originally Posted by spix14

So I am curious. I see a lot of pics where people have a male in with a breeder female and the males look teensy compared to her. I know that technically they would both be up to weight, and sometimes males breed smaller than you would think-but what are the risks of putting a male that small in with a girl that big? Do the females ever eat the males? There's been documented cases of BPs eating each other, so I was just curious as to what kind of risk factor there is. Do you just sit and watch them to make sure nothing happens?

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The reason why females look so much bigger is because they need to weigh considerable more for successful breeding and egg laying. I have never heard of a case of cannibalism while breeding in the ball python species. :)

What if she wasn't...well, in the mood? Wouldn't it kinda be like keeping two BPs in the same cage, which is frowned upon? I guess what I am really asking is, how long should you leave the male in? If she IS interested, how long til breeding takes place?

My luck, I'd go to breed mine and be the first documented case of a female going all praying mantis on a male.

I give them 24hrs. if I don't see copulation or at least courting or some type of interest I move the male to the next lady:)

I leave males with females for up to 3 days max. I have heard of a female striking(male was not hurt) but have never experienced it myself. I think this happens when the female is caught off guard.
I like to see my males at 500-600 grams and females at 1500 grams a least. That is a pretty significant difference. Then I have some females at the 3000 gram mark, so yeah they will be much larger than the boys.

I am a big breeder guy for the the most part. Give me one that is 1200-1500. You don't have to watch them as closely with regards to eating and rest. My best breeder is a 1500 gram 05 that is covering 10-12 females this season -- could do more. He is beefy and eats every week. He is pretty much insane!!!

That being said, I am trying to get a numcet of smaller/younger 500-800 males to breed. I have been trying some things based on what some others have reported they do. This is my first year breeding and I am willing to mix it up based on the insights of others who CLEARLY have more experience than I. Smaller females, moving after 24 hours of no interest are both things I am trying. I am also experimenting with having at least one female in their rotation having already been bred at least twice by another male. This way I know at least the female has been receptive to breeding. I have never seen any kind of aggression by a female torward a male -- occasional hissing. Bill

Size doesnt matter!! LOL...

Jas, Didn't you have a female that struck and coiled a male as you were putting him in with her?

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Originally Posted by ShawnT

Jas, Didn't you have a female that struck and coiled a male as you were putting him in with her?

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Yea, a 750 g male. She was hungry!

what winded up happening?