Breeding 2 year old female?

I'm planning to breed my female BP's at three years old, but I've heard of people breeding at two years old if they're big enough. If you've had an experience with, or have an opinion about breeding two-year-olds, I'd like to hear about it. :)

I tried one girl this year that was 2 and 1600 grams, she was not interested at all so I didn't push the issue. My older girls did though and am up to my third clutch being laid here in a couple weeks. To me if she takes great if not no big deal. I just think the younger they are your probably going to be more out to slug out and your may run the risk more of egg impaction.

I've bred 2 girls that were 2 years old. One was around 1700 grams and the other was 2000 grams. Half of both clutches were slugs. To me it wasn't worth it, and I don't think I'll do it again.

Thanks for the info! I'll just have to wait the whole three years... One down, two to go!

I have several gravid 2 year olds that weren't 2 yet before starting to breed and have several that already dropped perfect eggs.
If allowing your females more time to mature also allows you more time to prepare then that's your best reason to wait.

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

I have several gravid 2 year olds that weren't 2 yet before starting to breed and have several that already dropped perfect eggs.
If allowing your females more time to mature also allows you more time to prepare then that's your best reason to wait.

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haha agreed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

I have several gravid 2 year olds that weren't 2 yet before starting to breed and have several that already dropped perfect eggs.
If allowing your females more time to mature also allows you more time to prepare then that's your best reason to wait.

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Ah.... so maybe I might be able to get a clutch next year. My biggest female might be ready by then.... If I'm ready by then.

If they're big enough, you can try it. Often, they won't breed, but if they do, I don't think the egg fertility is affected. (That's usually up to the male).
On the other hand, if you wait another year, that's another year of fast growth, which of course produces a larger female. Larger females usually lay larger clutches.

I think it's fine as long as those 2 year olds were hatched in early spring. Then technically they will breed at 2 years of age but they will lay after their third winter. That's how my 2 year old breeders have always been. So it's more like 2 1/2. I've always had normal clutches with those girls also. If done right it's fine but never push it. If a female is still eating strong at 1500 grams, I won't put a male with her yet. I'll keep feeding her until she decides on her own to fast. If she's thick at 1500 but seems too short, nope.. Too long at 1500 but not thick, nope..

In other words, if she doesn't look like the average 2000 gram, 3 year old female should look when she's only 1500-1700 grams and 2-2 1/2 yrs old, then I probably won't do it. Some females just aren't ready at that age and some are.

I paired my Het albino female this year and she was over 1700 grams but never witnessed a lock! It was her second winter so I will try again this year! I think if they are ready, they will go, if they are not, they won't! I think this is true for any age! Good luck!

We have bred some 2 year old ball pythons Females. We have had good luck with it so far, but that doesn't mean it also hasn't had issues. With 2 year old ball pythons we wait until empty weight is 1500 grams. If it was me I would wait for 3 years for my first breeding, otherwise if one of these issues come up you could find yourself extremely disappointed resulting in cooling towards the hobby. On the other hand if you can't wait you could try it. Also another route is some breeders are selling off proven breeder normal females that are 4 and 5 years old at fairly decent prices. Make sure they can show you some photos of the girl on eggs particularly if they are telling you she lays larger than average clutches though.

Good points! My oldest girl was hatched mid July last year. She's the one I was thinking might be ready next year... I probably won't risk it... Just maybe a late season breeding if she seems big enough. My BP's health's way more important than an extra clutch! :snake:

This year i bred 3 females that were on their second winter and i had great year. All were around 1600 when breeding and kept eating, and i got 3 healthy clutches with each girl giving me 5 eggs. No not big clutches but, for some it works and others it doesn't. I did have 1 i tried breeding late in the season because i wasn't comfortable with her weight but she never took.

My pastel girl was 1800g at 18 months when I started pairing her - wasn't powerfed, just freakish growth (some of her off spring have also had freakish growth rates as well). She took right away, was ~2000g when she laid a little before she was 2 yrs and gave me 7 fertile eggs. She gave me 7 eggs last year again, and she should drop any day now with her 3rd clutch for me.

If they're ready they will breed. It just depends on them as well. If there's ever any doubt its best to wait another year. Though this is the only one I've bred so early - most of mine are still in the 800-1100g range by their 2nd year.

When I first started pairing my girl last season she was two years and 5 months old.

It makes the waiting more fun... The idea that I have a slight chance of getting a clutch next year! Will she?... Won't she?... Will she?... Won't she?... :snake: