Should I give it a shot?

I have an 07 normal female and an 08 lesser male that I've been thinking about breeding. It would be my first ever attempt at it and I've been really excited for a long time. Some time last year I asked if people thought an 07 of her size would be safe to breed by the next upcoming season (which is now) and it was a unanimous yes, but I'm really not sure. She weighs about 1300 at the moment and gets a rat once a week. (Unfortunately when I weighed her that time, I dropped the scale and it isn't working right anymore. :-/ ) Housing for the babies/money is not an issue, I'm only worried about hurting her. She's my first ever BP and I would feel awful if something went wrong. Do you think that in a two - three months time, it would be safe to try to breed her, or should I wait? Is she likely to get hurt being her size? I don't want to be impulsive, but I don't want to miss the opportunity either.

i say if its above 1200 go for it..........if shes ready she will breed.......:gj:

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Originally Posted by Ash

I have an 07 normal female and an 08 lesser male that I've been thinking about breeding. It would be my first ever attempt at it and I've been really excited for a long time. Some time last year I asked if people thought an 07 of her size would be safe to breed by the next upcoming season (which is now) and it was a unanimous yes, but I'm really not sure. She weighs about 1300 at the moment and gets a rat once a week. (Unfortunately when I weighed her that time, I dropped the scale and it isn't working right anymore. :-/ ) Housing for the babies/money is not an issue, I'm only worried about hurting her. She's my first ever BP and I would feel awful if something went wrong. Do you think that in a two - three months time, it would be safe to try to breed her, or should I wait? Is she likely to get hurt being her size? I don't want to be impulsive, but I don't want to miss the opportunity either.

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If money is no issue, get a new scale. :)
Your girl should be 1500g & in good condition before you breed her. If anything is telling you "wait" even gut instinct listen to it & wait.

I only dropped the scale the day before yesterday and I haven't worked up the inspiration yet to attempt to mend it. :-) If it can't be fixed, of course I will get another. I needn't throw money around to prove that I've got it. That's how you wind up with not enough money for a new scale.

Unfortunately, I don't have much of an instinct regarding these things yet, as I've never tried it before. I've heard 1200 g is good to breed, I've also heard that anything below 1500 g is a gamble at best. That's why I came to my bp.net buddies. I'd love to hear as many opinions as I can before making a decision :3 That's one no, and one yes so far.

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Originally Posted by Ash

I only dropped the scale the day before yesterday and I haven't worked up the inspiration yet to attempt to mend it. :-) If it can't be fixed, of course I will get another. I needn't throw money around to prove that I've got it. That's how you wind up with not enough money for a new scale.

Unfortunately, I don't have much of an instinct regarding these things yet, as I've never tried it before. I've heard 1200 g is good to breed, I've also heard that anything below 1500 g is a gamble at best. That's why I came to my bp.net buddies. I'd love to hear as many opinions as I can before making a decision :3 That's one no, and one yes so far.

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Sorry the broke scale thing, just got in my craw-

My less than tactful suggestion was put forth simply due to this- if you don't even know how much she weighs, how are we to give you good advice? Based on age? that's just no good- your snakie deserves better.

You seem to love your animals & breeding is a BIG step. There are folks who do breed at under 1500g but NOT me. These guys are pets first & used in projects only when I'm certain they will be okay.

I meant no offense, I appreciate the input! I'll find a way to keep weights on them current, no worries. You're right in saying that they are pets first. But breeding would be so much fun X3

I guess what I'm looking for mostly is people who have been successful/unsuccessful breeding an animal of this ballpark weight. Anybody had one die on them? Anybody produced viable clutches with them?

Well if she is at 1300, I would wait.

If she breed, it will most likely result in a small clutch with non fertilized eggs (slugs).

If you wait next year, she will have all this winter to put more weight and probably have a bigger healthier clutch next year.

I also have a 07 that is a bit low in weight. She started gaining weight in my care, but I still want her to have more weight before I attempt breeding her. She is high value, to me, but in term of $ too. And I wouldn't want to take any chance. I prefer to skip a year, instead of getting it right now. What I will do is not cool her, but she is kept on a higher shelves in a rack where the bottoms shelves are cooled. So the temperature will drop a bit in the night but not as much as the others. I hope she keep eating medium rats and if she keep gaining weight, may be by the end of the breeding season I will try her with a male.

I say go a head and pair them up but keep feeding her, she'll develop the eggs when she thinks she's ready.

I would go for it. Once you drop the temps and start breeding she will start eating like crazy. Most of my 07's were proven last season. No slugs from them and all clutches were between 5-7 eggs.

I found this thread: http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...t=51991&page=4 if anybody's interested to look, and I was surprised to find a lot of people saying that it's more dangerous to breed a really fat female than it is to breed a young one, and also that if you let them get too old before they breed, they're more likely to get egg-bound. Lots of contradictory information floating around. >_< One the one hand, better safe than sorry. On the other hand, if push comes to shove, I could always take her to the vet, get the problem fixed (if one happens to arise) and learn from my mistakes. And, there's no guarantee that she'll even produce.

I think at this point I'm leaning towards giving it my first go. I do have you lot to turn to if something goes wrong, after all.

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Originally Posted by pfan151

I would go for it. Once you drop the temps and start breeding she will start eating like crazy. Most of my 07's were proven last season. No slugs from them and all clutches were between 5-7 eggs.

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Oh wow, that's so encouraging. I might HAVE to do it now... lol, selective hearing I know

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Originally Posted by Ash

Oh wow, that's so encouraging. I might HAVE to do it now... lol, selective hearing I know

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Does she have girth or is she lanky? I believe it can make a difference. Good luck whatever you decide.

i think these numbers people throw around all the time should be viewed more as a general rule and not strict guidelines. anyone can keep asking "is this whatever weight girl good to go" but as all balls are different only you as a responsible keeper can judge if the animal is ready.

that obvious opinion being said, i think that if your two year old, 1300g female is a strong feeder, does not look thin but has good solid weight to her than she may be ready to go.

All right- got to add to this so you understand...

My Extreme low-white Pied female hit 1510g last season so I bred her. She's a lanky snake and she laid 2 eggs & 1 slug. I think BOTH the weight & condition have to both be considered. I should have let her fill out more & this year she's on break- it took much out of her & she's not regained her weight back.

She's going to be okay in time, but this took allot out of her. I wish I could give you cut & dried numbers & stats... not how it works with animals. Thought my weight cut off was a good # until I learned with her that it not always certain either.

My advice to you is to make sure your snake is filled out, looks like the medium bodied snake she's supposed to be.

I have no experience breeding at all. But from everything ive read and what you've said in the thread so far. I say go for it. If shes not ready to take shes not going to take. Shes your snake and you cant researach your way into being an experienced breeder. Just have to trial by fire it. (not that i would know) But ya my vote is go for it and see how it goes!