100% Het Orage Ghost Pair WOOO! And HELP!

So in 2 weeks I am getting a pair of 100% Het OG from Brian at BHB. Anyways they are gonna be 500-600 grams and gonna probably breed next year some time. Now I was thinking of feeding the girl 1 small rat once a week for 2 and a 1/2 months. The male will be ready to breed but the female will need some work. I am gonna feed 75g small rats but am wondering if I pump the girl with 1 small rat once a week for 2 1/2 months and then go with 2 small rats a week for 3 months do you think she can breed in Late Feb early March?

Daniel

I wouldn't consider breeding a female that's 600 grams now until next season at the earliest.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I wouldn't consider breeding a female that's 600 grams now until next season at the earliest.

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Would you maybe suggest late next season then. I don't know I have seen males go from 70-90 grams to 500g in 4 months. I know thats a lot but if the big breeders like Brian at BHB can get Kel his Bp guy to feed 2 to 3 times a week just to get the jewels up to size then I don't know if it's a problem. I think that the best thing to do is ask him and see what he suggest in 2 weeks. But I think I may go your way just to be safe. I am so confused with this Uhhhhh!

Daniel

You also have to keep in mind some ball pythons will not eat multiple prey items at one time. And just because you might want her to eat two or three times a week does not mean that she will. Also, congrats on the pair :gj:

power feedin ( what i call that) may shorten the life of your snake but ther eno proof . I got a 1400+ gram female het pied ( she lost some weight to a health mess lol) I won't breed her until she about 1600grams which would be about febuary if luck if not oh well.

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Originally Posted by Boanerges

You also have to keep in mind some ball pythons will not eat multiple prey items at one time. And just because you might want her to eat two or three times a week does not mean that she will. Also, congrats on the pair :gj:

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Thanks alot and I was not talking about 2 prey at once I was talking feeding like lets say monday and friday things like that,

Daniel

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Originally Posted by mechnut450

power feedin ( what i call that) may shorten the life of your snake but ther eno proof . I got a 1400+ gram female het pied ( she lost some weight to a health mess lol) I won't breed her until she about 1600grams which would be about febuary if luck if not oh well.

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Dude she can get 200g in a month or so. If you feed medium rats she would go for you in Nov.

Daniel

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Originally Posted by Simpson Balls

Thanks alot and I was not talking about 2 prey at once I was talking feeding like lets say monday and friday things like that,

Daniel

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this could be considered power feeding by some..

Personally, an animal that is 500-600 grams now, i do not think would be up to an acceptable breeding weight and condition next season.

Take a look at this thread and see if its worth it. Remember, we are these animals keepers, and as such they are our responsibility.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=81299

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Originally Posted by cinderbird

this could be considered power feeding by some..

Personally, an animal that is 500-600 grams now, i do not think would be up to an acceptable breeding weight and condition next season.

Take a look at this thread and see if its worth it. Remember, we are these animals keepers, and as such they are our responsibility.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=81299

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Thanks for the post. That thread is really, really helpful,

Daniel

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Originally Posted by Simpson Balls

Dude she can get 200g in a month or so. If you feed medium rats she would go for you in Nov.

Daniel

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that may be true but my rats supply just startedto breed and I have 21 snakes( over half are rescues ) and the boa will eat 3 larg rats if I let her. I have some semi medium rat ( between small and medium ) but they old ( been frozen for over 6months so I am not too sure if they trustable. I just been using my ASF supply and using the ratI personally froze begining of the summer when I need more. ( dang litlte guys outgrew my supply and the frozen stuff either too smallor big lol.. )

i would say you should wait. The bigger she is the happier you'll be because you should get a bigger clutch.

As far as Brian's feeding. Just because he does it you will? He depends on his snakes to breed to make a living and pay for the snake food and upkeep. So its a slightly different ball game

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Originally Posted by Boanerges

You also have to keep in mind some ball pythons will not eat multiple prey items at one time. And just because you might want her to eat two or three times a week does not mean that she will. Also, congrats on the pair :gj:

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All of mine eat multiple rats ! But i am also feeding AFS's not sure if that makes a diff !



I would wait . Waiting one more year should give you more eggs too !

I feed all of my snakes multiple items at feed time, either multiple weaned rats fir my larger girls or multiple ASFs. And I pretty much offer food til they refuse. Snakes are dumb but they will eat when hungry and not eat when full (or on one of their damn ghandi like hunger strikes).

It isn't damaging at all to the snakes.



"power feeding" is the abhorant practice of sticking multiple prey items in a snake at one time, basically tricking it in to eating more than it planned / wanted to / than is good for it.

It is completely different from a weight building feeding schedule. Which is what I have all my snakes on. They are all kept in good temps with good humidity and offered an all you can eat buffet every 5-7 days.

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Originally Posted by matt71915

i would say you should wait. The bigger she is the happier you'll be because you should get a bigger clutch.

As far as Brian's feeding. Just because he does it you will? He depends on his snakes to breed to make a living and pay for the snake food and upkeep. So its a slightly different ball game

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Thats a true fact but I think Brian may have a different road for me to go considering this is my first Bp cluch ever! I'll have to find out.

Daniel

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Originally Posted by Haydenphoto

All of mine eat multiple rats ! But i am also feeding AFS's not sure if that makes a diff !



I would wait . Waiting one more year should give you more eggs too !

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Your probably right, I don't her to give me a bad clutch like let's say 3 eggs and like 4 slugs. I may just wait for her to give me a bigger clutch.

Daniel

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Originally Posted by euphuistical

I feed all of my snakes multiple items at feed time, either multiple weaned rats fir my larger girls or multiple ASFs. And I pretty much offer food til they refuse. Snakes are dumb but they will eat when hungry and not eat when full (or on one of their damn ghandi like hunger strikes).

It isn't damaging at all to the snakes.



"power feeding" is the abhorant practice of sticking multiple prey items in a snake at one time, basically tricking it in to eating more than it planned / wanted to / than is good for it.

It is completely different from a weight building feeding schedule. Which is what I have all my snakes on. They are all kept in good temps with good humidity and offered an all you can eat buffet every 5-7 days.

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Thanks for the help I may try that a couple times to see how things go!

Daniel

I wouldn't do the feeding you were considering, I would wait not till next season, but the following. She'll be ready then.

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Originally Posted by Neal

I wouldn't do the feeding you were considering, I would wait not till next season, but the following. She'll be ready then.

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I get what your saying but most people not just big time breeders people hear have there females go for the second winter.

Daniel

Seems like what ur really wanting is for everyone to make you feel like its a good idea to do what ur wanting. Im pretty sure waiting is in the best intrest of the snake, but i guess u have to choose between being patient or taking a risk.

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Originally Posted by rthamilton

Seems like what ur really wanting is for everyone to make you feel like its a good idea to do what ur wanting. Im pretty sure waiting is in the best intrest of the snake, but i guess u have to choose between being patient or taking a risk.

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Your right, I may just wait till late,late next season,

Daniel

im seriously the most impatient person in the world. But im patient when it comes to my babies cuz honestly if something bad happens i couldnt manage lol. Are these snakes going to be more of a money maker for you,just want to try breeding, or trying to breed something for ur own collection? Even if i never breed anything, i really do enjoy caring for them and thats y i do it. Guess im easily attached. Goodluck with whatever you choose,but make sure to keep us updated on the progress. Also if anyone can answer this question: When someone says that powerfeeding shortens the life of the bp,what do they consider shortened lifespan?

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Originally Posted by Simpson Balls

Dude she can get 200g in a month or so. If you feed medium rats she would go for you in Nov.

Daniel

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Daniel, there's a difference on what a snake can do & what they will do. The best balance I've found that allows a snake to grow nicely is a 5 day feeding schedule with the correctly sized prey item- if you try to max out the size at the feedings, this too will fail. Ultimately the snake will dictate when she's ready. And some may not do 5 day schedules. This is no hobby to rush things- be patient.

Thanks alot for your help and for the above question it is just for the babies and the care for my animals,

Daniel

Power-feeding refers to feeding snakes more than they would normally eat--introducing another rat on the tail of the first one as it's going into the snake's mouth, for example.
It doesn't refer to feeding snakes more often. I think that Monday and Friday is probably too frequent, BUT, it does depend on the size of the prey items! If you overfeed your ball python, it will simply start refusing to eat every time you offer it.
I keep my young snakes on a 5 day schedule, unless they get fussy on it--then I try them on a 7 day, and keep them there if they eat more consistantly on it.

Once they're age 3, they go on a 7 day schedule, except for breeder females who laid huge clutches--they go back onto 5 day for a few weeks until they look less deflated.
Kept on this schedule, I have snakes that reach a typical 500 grams in one year, and others that reach a whopping 800 + grams in one year. Growth rates for snakes really do vary a lot despite similar food intake.