how many females

***i kno here we go again with another rookie, question........but i would like to start breeding albino's---i have a normal female, that is no where near breeding weight---so i won't be ready to do anything for another 2 winter's----but this is my plan---i was going to get an albino male this coming summer from a show---and maybe 2 het females---which will bring my total to 1 male and three females---is this too much to start off---i don't want to get ahead of myself-------plus i hear about the rack systems for adults, but what about for the hatchlings---im guessing you need one for them too right??

ps dr. seward dvd is in the mail!!!

no i don't think you can have too much snakes, as long as all are healthy

you can make/order racks for hatchlings, they come in smaller tubs

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Originally Posted by reediculous

***i kno here we go again with another rookie, question........but i would like to start breeding albino's---i have a normal female, that is no where near breeding weight---so i won't be ready to do anything for another 2 winter's----but this is my plan---i was going to get an albino male this coming summer from a show---and maybe 2 het females---which will bring my total to 1 male and three females---is this too much to start off---i don't want to get ahead of myself-------plus i hear about the rack systems for adults, but what about for the hatchlings---im guessing you need one for them too right??

ps dr. seward dvd is in the mail!!!

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First off welcome to the group incase i have not said this to you as of yet:) .Well before you take the big step into breeding, i suggest you make sure whatever snakes you have or might buy in the near future for your albino project be well cared for and kept at the proper temps.Breeding ball pythons is not just placing two snakes together and boom your a rich man.Since you allready know it will be at least 2yrs for normal female you allready have it shows you are on the right track of thought.I have never seen the Dr. Sewards DVD so i can not say anything about it.I keep my adult breeders in a 7 shelf 41qt rack and i also have a 9 level hatchling rack that will hold 36 12qt tubs and i have attached a pic of it for referance.Since ball pythons are easily stressed out most prefer to use these rack systems for them to live in.Now depending on your ability to build one or if your are like me buy one or two(i bought my adult rack and the hatchling rack) its up to you.If i missed any questions or if you have any other questions ask away as thats why this site and its members are here:) .Here is the pic of my hatchling rack as promised. http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ngrack2006.jpg

thanks for the fast response----i don't really have the room for a hugh project but -----what do you think i should start with?

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Originally Posted by reediculous

thanks for the fast response----i don't really have the room for a hugh project but -----what do you think i should start with?

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I started out with just one female normal and one normal male.This way i had the breeding,the egg incubating all understood.Now i have a male pastel on two females this year.If you are comfortable you could either get a albino male and raise him until your female is at least 1500+grams and at least 2+yrs old.Or you could go with a normal male on her when she is ready this way if something fails you do not lose the het albino clutch.Basicly its what you feel comfortable doing as either way its a great feeling seeing those little heads pop out and look around for there first time:cool: .

I recently purchased another rack which is the Vision CB70 rack. Unlike my other racks this rack can be used with the longer cb70 tub from the front or smaller hatchling racks sliding out of the side of the rack. It uses a heat rope which can be layed out in a wide variety of ways depending how you want to use a particular level with 11 levels. It is a very versatile rack and the best thing it's one of the more affordable. I also have freedom breeders and pvc Animal plastics racks. So with this one rack you could get the snakes you want and even have some extra levels which come in real handy when you are cleaning just move them from one to another. Right now I have my vision rack in my cool room for my snakes that are ready to breed but next year it will become my hatchling rack on most levels and go back in the snake room. Good luck. One more thing to consider when having many snakes is to make sure you have a reliable source of rodents or best, breed them yourself and have free food.

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Originally Posted by westcoastjungle

I recently purchased another rack which is the Vision CB70 rack. Unlike my other racks this rack can be used with the longer cb70 tub from the front or smaller hatchling racks sliding out of the side of the rack. It uses a heat rope which can be layed out in a wide variety of ways depending how you want to use a particular level with 11 levels. It is a very versatile rack and the best thing it's one of the more affordable. I also have freedom breeders and pvc Animal plastics racks. So with this one rack you could get the snakes you want and even have some extra levels which come in real handy when you are cleaning just move them from one to another. Right now I have my vision rack in my cool room for my snakes that are ready to breed but next year it will become my hatchling rack on most levels and go back in the snake room. Good luck. One more thing to consider when having many snakes is to make sure you have a reliable source of rodents or best, breed them yourself and have free food.

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I am glad you replied here as i wondered if those racks could be used for hatchlings or other sized tubs:) .The rack i show above i can use 1 41qt tub on each shelf and still have 2 12qt tubs for hatchlings on the shelf also.It kinda gives me a reason to get more snakes i guess lol.

keeping a 1:3 or 1:4 ratio is good , one male to 3,4 females is a good breeding group. there are a few different ways to meet your goal of albinos. depends on your budget too. 100% het girls cost alot more than 50% or poss. het girls. they should too after all they are 100%. i would buy 100% het girls if budget allows, if not 50% hets will do fine. buying 3,4 50% het girls gives you good odds that one or more is really a 100%het. buy your girls first, then buy a het male the next year. if you can afford to buy and albino male (visual), this will maximize your breeding outcome and odds for success.


be very careful who you buy your hets from! you are shopping the breeder just as much as the snakes themselves.


vaughn

do you have any idea's of a reputable breeder---once again thanks for your replies

almost forgot--nice dog Joe!!

I too am starting a breed project of het albinos.. I went with 1 100% het albino male ( he is also 50%het for pied.. I have other plans for him as well ;)) and I have 1 100% het albino female and 3 66% albino het females. I got all mine so they would be able to breed this year , thus I paid a little more for them as they are already up to weight.

As mentioned befor, the 66% are alot cheaper than the 100% so If you are limited I would get 3-4 66% hets over 1 100% het. ( keep in mind food... it gets spendy when feed 5 snakes a week at 3 dollars a pop, if you cant afford food for all these snakes there is no way you will get them up to weight. Therefor, if that is an issue then I would just get 1-2 females so you can get them to proper weight)


Just throwing out ideas at you, Hope this helps shed some light... good luck.

Chris

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Originally Posted by reediculous

do you have any idea's of a reputable breeder---once again thanks for your replies

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There are several that visit this board and make a significant contribution to this web site on a daily basis.

Jamie (jglass38), Evan Jamison, 8Ball Adam (AdamWysocki), Steve (SPJ), Ed Clark, Robin (rabernet), Vaughn (kavmon), Kara (KLG, AKA NERD), and quite a few others...not picking out favorites, just pointing out the 1% that I can think of right now :D

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Originally Posted by reediculous

almost forgot--nice dog Joe!!

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Thanks.Thats our red nosed female pit in that pic.Since this is your thread here is a clear pic of our male staff/pit male and the red nose female pit. http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ourkillers.jpg

I too will be doing a breeding project next year. I got a 100% het male from Bailey & Bailey reptiles, a 100% het 1000g female from a fellow member, and I just got 2 females today(will weigh today, breeder said around 550 and 900) to make hets. There is a 1:3 ratio for my little boy.

If you're going for less than 100% hets it might be a good idea to try to buy all the sisters from the same clutch.

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Originally Posted by Rapture

If you're going for less than 100% hets it might be a good idea to try to buy all the sisters from the same clutch.

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In reality, when dealing with possible hets, it doesn't make a difference ... while I'm the first to admit that psychologically it "feels better" to have all the girls out of a single possible het clutch, the reality is that they odds are the same when trying to prove out all the possible het girls from a single clutch as they are trying to prove ou a group of possible het girls all from different clutches.

-adam

I would feel better about it also. :P

well i have two normal females, so i should have them up to size, when i start buying hets etc

You should buy your female hets as soon as possible. The longer you put that off, the longer it will be until you produce. The male het or homozygous animal will only need a year or so, while females need 2-3 minimum to reach breeding size.

Maybe think about getting a co-dom male in the mean time for your normal girls while you wait on your hets...

yea i plan to get some spiders or pastels in the future for the girls, i don't have room/permission for anymore snakes, or else i'd definitely start saving up

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Originally Posted by Kizerk

yea i plan to get some spiders or pastels in the future for the girls, i don't have room/permission for anymore snakes, or else i'd definitely start saving up

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start saving now for a co dom. What is your e-mail? I recently convinced my mom to let me breed at my house and will e-mail you the paper I wrote explaining it so you cna go from that.