Ball python breeding size?

This is kind of a stupid question, but at what size are ball pythons normally ready to breed?:snake:

Any ideas?
I don't know how old mine are, so I have to guess by length.
:banana:
lol

they should be 3 years old and at least 1400 grams if my memory serves me right. anything before that is a danger to your little friend

You will get all kinds of answers to that question and most of them will be right. The rule of thumb I have always went by is 1 y/o males atleast 700g and 2 y/o females atleast 1500g.

As stated above I would go by weight not age, I have a 1 year old albino het male and hes only 300 grams, hes a slow grower so he might be ready to breed in 1 more year..

Thanks. I have a pair, they're obviously not ready to breed just yet.
They are both around 27 inches long.
How old would you guess they are?
When do you think they'll br ready.

I'm in no rush to breed them, just curious.:confused:

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Originally Posted by Mochelem

As stated above I would go by weight not age, I have a 1 year old albino het male and hes only 300 grams, hes a slow grower so he might be ready to breed in 1 more year..

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or he may just be ready this year...;)

I'v seen a lot of ppl say 1200+ grams for females and 500+ for males. my female pastel is jest under 900 grams and she is 11 months old i was hoping she would get to 1200 before breeding season.

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Originally Posted by NorCalPythons

I'v seen a lot of ppl say 1200+ grams for females and 500+ for males. my female pastel is jest under 900 grams and she is 11 months old i was hoping she would get to 1200 before breeding season.

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Just because she may be up to size this season, does not mean she's mature enough. I don't breed any female before their third winter. I'd never breed a year old female.

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Originally Posted by FatBoy

You will get all kinds of answers to that question and most of them will be right. The rule of thumb I have always went by is 1 y/o males atleast 700g and 2 y/o females atleast 1500g.

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Thats my minimum too, or at least when I see the most success:gj:

The bigger they are the more eggs they usually lay.... also the bigger the eggs as apposed to small females laying small clutches and or small eggs at times.

I prefer to have them starting at 1400g myself.... just a better result I find.

Thanks.:bow:

I'll try weigh them and I guess, see from there.

You avatar makes me ask - are they currently housed together? If so, you run two risks - first, the female could be bred too young and be detrimental to her health or secondly, they just won't breed at all, from being with each other all the time.

Ball pythons are solitary and do not require companionship. The only time they should be introduced is for breeding and usually for just three or four days at a time, then separated again.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NorCalPythons

I'v seen a lot of ppl say 1200+ grams for females and 500+ for males. my female pastel is jest under 900 grams and she is 11 months old i was hoping she would get to 1200 before breeding season.

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One other thing to take in consideration is the experience of the person attempting to breed, to a first time breeder I would not recommend anything less than 1500 grams for a female and 700 grams for a male.

There is no rush, it is not a race! ;)

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Originally Posted by NorCalPythons

I'v seen a lot of ppl say 1200+ grams for females and 500+ for males. my female pastel is jest under 900 grams and she is 11 months old i was hoping she would get to 1200 before breeding season.

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Call me crazy - but I wouldn't breed a girl that size unless she was well over 3 years old and just destine to be a small snake kinda girl. But that's just me. :rolleye2:

I think 3 years and 1500 gr for females is the accepted standard. I have bed 2 year old girls that were around 1200 gr. Smaller clutch smaller eggs.
I have heard of males breeding at 350 gr.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

You avatar makes me ask - are they currently housed together? If so, you run two risks - first, the female could be bred too young and be detrimental to her health or secondly, they just won't breed at all, from being with each other all the time.

Ball pythons are solitary and do not require companionship. The only time they should be introduced is for breeding and usually for just three or four days at a time, then separated again.

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Ya, they are together.
I bought them that way.
The guy had housed them together, so I didn't think anything of it.

I keep my corns together, and they've bred before.

Does everyone think I should seperate them? I don't really have space.
I really appreciate the advice, but want to make absolutely certain, before forking out for more tanks.

Anyone?

Thanks alot though!!!
I really do appreciate the advice!
:oops:
I'm new to the forum, and really like how everyone is so friendly and helpful.
Thanks all!:gj:

:banana:

Yes, they need to be seperated. It wont cost much to set up a 10g tank. Over time you can get a small rack that will hold 4 snakes and you can expand your collection, You will definately expand your collection, you can't own just one!! What are they housed in now?

Wow yes seperate them

just becuase they are togethor does NOT mean they are happy

Plus if she is too small and gets pregnant she could die..


are you even sure you have a male/female combo?


SPLIT THEM UP!

they are in a large tank, probably, 5 ft long.

I was told that the one was male and the other was female, it seems that way from their spurs.

I thought about what you guys said. It does make sense.
I'll see if I can get hold of a small rack. And sell my display cages to cover the cost.

How do you know when to put them together again?

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Originally Posted by snakemanjayd

they are in a large tank, probably, 5 ft long.

I was told that the one was male and the other was female, it seems that way from their spurs.

I thought about what you guys said. It does make sense.
I'll see if I can get hold of a small rack. And sell my display cages to cover the cost.

How do you know when to put them together again?

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Spur size means nothing with ball pythons. I've got females with larger spurs that some of my males.

When your female is in her third winter, and at least 1500 grams, then you can introduce the male for 3 days, then give him a 4 day break to eat and rest and repeat.

You can look around at different breeders websites to see their breeding schedules. 8ballpythons.com has a real good breeding calander as does marcusjayne wesite, not sure of his actual web address, you can google him. Typically breeding season starts to take place the first to middle of November with temp changes.

The one is fairly larger than the other...
I don't know if you can see it in my profile pic.
I'm hesitant to probe, because I don't know how, and probes are expensive. And They are probably to old to pop.
What do you guys think I should do?

I think ball pythons would breed at a slightly different time of the year here. Since I'm in the Southern Hemisphere.
I live in South Africa.

its been 8 yrs my bad...

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Originally Posted by oDRObinak

its been 8 yrs my bad...

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Hahahahahahaha. I read that whole freaking post then got to your comment and realized how old this thing is hHahahah. Wonder if he had success. Sadly i guess no