Male breeding size at 350 grams??

Think of it this way. If a kid hits puberty at about 12-14 years old, can they breed? Yes. Should they? No.

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Originally Posted by CD CONSTRICTORS

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750g-1000g+= 6-7 females max depending on eating habits. Some may retain weight even while not eating, but with a 1000g+ breeder I'm pretty OK with him losing 100-150g during breeding season....

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I like this answer. I don't care if it's 5 years old I still like it. A good answer is a good answer regardless of how old the thread is.

For those of you who agree with a weight of 1,000 grams for males... Would you continue growing your breeder males past 1,000 grams or just maintenance feed after that point? Is there an advantage to growing males to 1,500 or even more? I see male breeder morphs for sale that weigh >2,000 and Volta's >3,000

The Volta's I could understand coz they don't even start sperm plugs until >1,000. But what about just regular males derived from morphs?

I picked up a male morph 5 weeks ago at 700 grams. Today he is 1,000 grams. I have not fed him consistently. He got a medium rat after 5 days, then another medium again after his 12th day, then a large on the 20th day, then another large on his 35th day with me. (Voracious appetite I believe he would much more than I've offered but it's only September.) I weighed him prior to each feeding - he gained weight regardless of duration; he passes large stools. Fast metabolism with this one. Has shed twice already.

I believe I could get maintenance feed him a medium rat every 15 days. Should I? Rats are not free. I do breed my own but there's still time/cost to raise pups up to medium/large size.

And, the more I feed the more tub changes are needed. What goes in must come out. The more time involved, the more bedding required.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

I don't see why so many breeders are in such a hurry.
I would ask them about their animal care.
Its not worth the risk, even if its a slim risk.

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Money. That's ultimately the reason.

A lot of breeders are on this perpetual quest to find the next big combo or prove out the latest gene discovery to produce their own world's firsts that they can put up for thousands of dollars a piece.

They can breed, but they need to be carefully monitored and stop pairing if he goes off feed. Fertility is not always as good. I've done it and would do it again but not as a normal thing. Better to have a larger male that can afford to fast and not have dual sired clutches or reabsorbing females. It's a lot like breeding a 1200g female, can it be done, sure. In most circumstances it's better to wait a year though for better results.

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Originally Posted by nikkubus

... Better to have a larger male that can afford to fast and not have dual sired clutches or reabsorbing females. ...

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Are you saying that if male of less than optimal size successfully locks with a female then that female may potentially go on to reabsorb? Whereas if locking with a 1,000+ gram male the likelihood of reabsorption would be diminished?

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Originally Posted by JoeNapoli

Are you saying that if male of less than optimal size successfully locks with a female then that female may potentially go on to reabsorb? Whereas if locking with a 1,000+ gram male the likelihood of reabsorption would be diminished?

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Not all locks are equal. Sometimes younger males can get a weak lock or miss all together.

But what I was referring to mostly is if he fasts and you have to stop pairing him before you manage to get a lock, and if you don't have a backup male to take his place.