Question about breeding (age, length, or weight?)

I'm wondering if breeding readiness in BPs is more about age, length, or weight? I keep reading things about the weight of breeders, particularly females, but don't see much on age. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

I was always told 3 years but LET THE SNAKE TELL YOU! as most will say ;)

This is an extremely sensitive topic as you will get a lot of opinions. Some people go by weight others by age and others by a combination of both factors. I've actually found it very confusing my self. I have not heard of anyone going by length yet, but I'm sure with the current lack of facts in this department someone probably does!

We are just starting out with breeding and hope to start our first cycle once our two big girls are fully healthy and feel safe and at home. Right now we are probably going with a conservative basis of 1500 grams as a safe breeding weight. This may change thanks to Jasballs opening our minds to other possibilities, but that would be after we have a couple of successful breedings at 1500 grams and have a full grasp of what the female goes through during the whole process. The way we look at it 1500 grams is definately a safe weight to start laying eggs since in the wild they have balls pythons a lot lighter than this laying eggs. As far as age goes we figure if she doesn't show any interest she probably is just to young. I would say a minimum of 2 years of age before trying though!

Just remember that what I have above is info we have collected as we have not started breeding yet, but hope to do so soon!:)

A combination of the three - age because they have to have the maturity otherwise you are breeding for nothing - weight because they have to have the fat reserves for a healthy "pregnancy" and you have to look at length too because a 1500 gram 3 footer looks a lot different than a 1500 gram 5 footer - which goes back to having the proper fat reserves for the breeding season. :gj:


PS: I used 1500 grams as an example not a rule. :rolleye2:

This is a subject that you will get many different views on. Because every animal is different what works for this snake might put this snakes health at risk. That being said I agree with some of the above that a combo of 1500 grams and three years old is a good marker for a starting breeder to look for. I did that this year with my animals where as I could have possibly produced 5-6 clutches this year I held off on three females because they were right there on that border and me being new at this didn't want to risk the health of my snakes for my ability to produce twice as many clutches this year.

This is not to say that a 1000 gram female can't breed and do just fine but there are risks involved if her reproductive system is still not ready you might ruin the animal for ever of breeding. There are many risks for the snakes when breeding.

My advice is to take it slow. Its better to be safe than sorry.

I can't honestly tell you from personal experience because this is my first time breeding ball pythons. But most of what I have read all says the same thing:

Males - Minimum 12 months old and 500+ grams
Females - Minimum 18 months old and 1200+grams

I have mostly read that 1500g and three winters in age...... This said, I also believe that with more experience under my belt, I will be better able to 'read' my snakes and determine more appropriately those who appear, at first blush, iffy!

Thanks for the input all. I guess we can safely say there really is no consensus on what is "right" lol.

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Originally Posted by bsd13

Thanks for the input all. I guess we can safely say there really is no consensus on what is "right" lol.

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Sort of. We can say what will (usually) definitely work, without a hitch (most times)!! Hahaha!! No really, there is a rather safe and reliable methodology that states at least a healthy 1500+ gram female who is three years or older. This is a great recipe that first time breeders follow because it works and because first time breeders are inexperienced.

That understood (the first time and inexperienced part) there are other 'recipes' that are successfully used by keepers who have had greater experience and who are in-tuned with their snakes enough to graduate from the beginning phase of breeding 101 into more advance techniques.

Does any of this make sense to you?.... :weirdface