when do you guys usually start breeding?

I've read several articles that give contradictory recommendations.

one article said start in october , another said december, and yet another said it doesn't matter as long as the right conditions are met breeding can be done at any time.

so, what's the right answer?

So far I have stuck to the season, cool in the fall, start pairing in Oct-Nov... but I do have a few girls that may be good to go this spring. In which case I may try my hand at spring breeding (success will be another story).

When my collection gets larger, being able to stagger the breedings so that the work load is evenly distributed would be great, as well as having hatchlings available at various ages to meet the market would be a good business move IMHO.

Bruce

so, you CAN breed them any time then.

is it easier to stick to the seasons, though?

I think if you've never bred these snakes before it's probably best to stick with the seasonal approach, with the tried and true methods and just learn to walk basically before you run. Once you've got some successful seasons under your belt then I think it's a fine idea to think outside the box, change up a few things, etc. As long as you do right by the snakes and understand fully what you are attempting to accomplish then I think it's a learning experience and helps a breeder grow.

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so, what's the right answer?

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There is no right answer there are even people breeding year round.

Last season I started pairing in mid November this season I started in early October. (It mainly depends on my animals ;))

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Originally Posted by pliskin

so, what's the right answer?

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I'll also add to that. The longer you keep snakes the more you come to realize there is no one solid, cut in stone "right answer" to just about anything. Certain basics like temps, humidity and so forth tend to be pretty much a given but the rest of it - well you have to learn how to gather information, apply to yourself and your snake and know what you can do and what you should wait and learn more about before you attempt it. It's pretty overwhelming at first.

thanks for the suggestions everyone, I'm not planning on doing anything right now, though.

maybe in a year or so, I'll start setting up a rack and an incubator before I even do anything. I realized I still got a ton of research to do since reading the breeding posts.

I watch my females and look for breeding signals. I have some lay in Feb and all the way to October. I let them tell me when its time to breed;)

i think it has to do with where you live ...

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

I watch my females and look for breeding signals. I have some lay in Feb and all the way to October. I let them tell me when its time to breed;)

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True that... I had females pairing in October of last year and the clutch not hatch till August. :rolleyes: