Another "weight" question...

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Originally Posted by stratus_020202

Are you talking about the Caramel Albino? I am so excited to see some of those babies. What are you pairing her with? I love caramels.

The worst problem with the smaller weight girls is becoming egg bound. Of course, I think that's more for the under 1K g weight. I think yours is a good weight. Someone mentioned on here to go by looks. If she's looking fat then breed her. If they are long and skinny, but still 1200 g's, it's probably better to wait.

Good luck!!

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That is usually what people say, but Big Gunns has not found it to be the case himself. If they're under 1k they usually won't even produce eggs...although they sure can.

To make things perfectly clear(rare for BG). BG agrees with the Leeetle Minion.....kinda(a first in the world...write down the date fans:D). There is no one size fits all when it comes to breeding Balls. They can be bred smaller. Of course they're gonna lay smaller eggs, and have smaller clutches. BG doesn't think there are any more complications. Any size ball can get "egg bound".

Big Gunns can think of 4 sibs that he has had. One has bred for two years...the others didn't:taz:. The one that bred is just as big as the others.....so even though BG said that they will grow slower if they are bred, it is not always the case.

Big Gunns will say this though. Pete Kahl always lets his girls get big before he breeds them. He says they'll lay bigger clutches for him if he waits. He has zillions of animals so he can do that. If you only have a few snakes it's much harder to do if you're an inpatient sob.

****So to wrap it all up. You can try and breed your girls small, and probably have no more problems than if you wait. You'll just get smaller eggs and clutches and possibly a slightly "stunted"(not necessarily) female.

****. Legal disclaimer. If you have a problem...don't blame BG. What idiot listens to someone who talks in the third person anyway.:D

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

I have only heard of one female Ball python becoming egg bound in the 5-6 years I've been around..I'm sure it happens. But I've also seen people like Mark and BG breed sub 1100 gram girl with no problem..Is it something I would suggest to a new comer or first time breeder.. NO!!!..only reason is that you'll not know if something is wrong. It's not a bad thing just an experience thing..

I'm breeding my first sub 1100 gram girl this year..but shes 4 years old..I figure it like this if the breeding makes her eat great if she produces 2 eggs., I better pick something cool as hell to shoot for. :D

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Yeah, I think i've only seen one on here. It was one saved from a pet store. I was thinking it was only bad for the really small ones, like 900 g'ish. I guess it is a possibility for any female, depending on the egg size.

Lol. I bet both those little girls throw above average clutches. Just to disprove the weight theory :)

Taylor, once you start pairing her up she will probably start to eat again and gain weight quickly. In my experience females will start eating heavily once courting/breeding begins. I get my best feeding results the first few months of breeding season. I feed small meals since I cool at night so I don't want big meals sitting in their stomachs.

Also, regarding egg bound females: I've only had it happen twice and both females were "soft" rather then small. I can't explain why they seemed fat or soft as they were raised the same as my others, they just didn't have that solid muscular feel.

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Originally Posted by David Green

Also, regarding egg bound females: I've only had it happen twice and both females were "soft" rather then small. I can't explain why they seemed fat or soft as they were raised the same as my others, they just didn't have that solid muscular feel.

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Thanks! There really isn't a lot of insight into egg bound. It really helps a lot when you hear from people who have actually lived through it. So, it's probably more associated with girth of a female rather than weight?

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Originally Posted by David Green

Taylor, once you start pairing her up she will probably start to eat again and gain weight quickly. In my experience females will start eating heavily once courting/breeding begins. I get my best feeding results the first few months of breeding season. I feed small meals since I cool at night so I don't want big meals sitting in their stomachs.

Also, regarding egg bound females: I've only had it happen twice and both females were "soft" rather then small. I can't explain why they seemed fat or soft as they were raised the same as my others, they just didn't have that solid muscular feel like we all know Big Gunns does.

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Yep....they can gain a whole lot of weight while breeding if you feed them....and you should.

Those females must have had Leeetle Minion blood in them Dave.:D

OK...that's enough with the "Leeetle Minion". BG just misses his buddies. They gave Big Gunns life.:rofl::rofl:


ps. BG fixed your post also Dave.;):D

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Originally Posted by Big Gunns

Yep....they can gain a whole lot of weight while breeding if you feed them....and you should.

Those females must have had Leeetle Minion blood in them Dave.:D

OK...that's enough with the "Leeetle Minion". BG just misses his buddies. They gave Big Gunns life.:rofl::rofl:


ps. BG fixed your post also Dave.;):D

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Could you explain the events surrounding "Leeetle Minion's" passing..just for the uneducated among us..

Two isn't a great example just something I've noted. It wasn't girth as much as they felt fat/soft rather then the typicall solid feeling ball python.

BG, I was actually going to make such a comment but held off. :D

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Originally Posted by aarondm

I've heard alot about this and have always wondered if this is a documented, factual effect of early breeding. I'd love to see some numbers on that

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Adam Wysocki did some documentation in his own collection that he shared here:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...7&postcount=23

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Adam Wysocki did some documentation in his own collection that he shared here:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...7&postcount=23

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Very nice. That should be a sticky. I've never seen it before.