Breeding Weight?

In your opinion, what is minimum breeding weight for females?

Anything under 1200 you run high risk of being egg bound, could stunt growth, etc. 1500+ is prefered by me.

I didn't breed anyone under 1200 at the beginning of breeding season. They all bulked up more during the season so that none of my girls now is under 1600 (that haven't yet laid).

I believe that age is more important then size. As long as they're at least three years old they should be OK to handle laying. I've had several females that were less then 900 grams lay perfectly good and healthy clutches. Clutch sizes ARE smaller, but they'll also often lay every year whereas my largest females seem to like to take every other year off.

Perhaps it's just easier for these smaller females to get back up to THEIR perfect weight. (as opposed to the weight that I'D like them to be)

I was told 1800, and that's our plan so far to stick to that. But we are super newbies, we haven't even had a clutch yet.

i was told by several people (including people here) that 1500 is the way to go. but also told that smaller usually means smaller clutches if your females age is appropriate. i saw a 1100gram 05 female lay 4 eggs. healty ones as well. sooo guess it can go either way?

felipe

It is a combination

My preference is to breed big girls ;).

While I would not breed a 1100/1200 female that is a year old, I would however consider breeding a 3-4 years old female of the same weight.

i have produced a 6 egg clutch fro ma 1400gram female last year and she is now 2200 this year on rest. i go for 1400+ and 2 years or older.

Have bred 4 1200g plus females this season with numerous long locks, none are entertaining the boys so assuming jobs done, 3 are already 1300g & eating well so fingers crossed..if they go great but no guarantees

prefer a 2 year old anda minium weight of at least 1300 grams this way they got a little extra fat to help feed the eggs. while she off feed .

Under 900 grams...oh my. I wouldn't do anything under 1,300 grams if I were paid. I'd much rather breed at 1,500 grams.

My general rule of thumb is at least 1500g and at least 2 years old

I have never bred ball pythons, I just bought my first 2 today (pastel male and spider female), but I do have experience with ball pythons. My sister has one and my best friend has one, so I have decided to get some morphs to breed in a few years.

I have read a bunch and I will not breed my female until she is at LEAST 1500(preferably more), I'm not sure how many years it takes for females to get that big, but I can wait, the safety of the snake always comes first!

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Originally Posted by ArbensMusic

I have never bred ball pythons, I just bought my first 2 today (pastel male and spider female), but I do have experience with ball pythons. My sister has one and my best friend has one, so I have decided to get some morphs to breed in a few years.

I have read a bunch and I will not breed my female until she is at LEAST 1500(preferably more), I'm not sure how many years it takes for females to get that big, but I can wait, the safety of the snake always comes first!

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with a normal feeding schedule you might be looking at 2 or 3 years

1200+ if you breed anything under 1000 you're an idiot.

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Originally Posted by Hock3ymonk3y

My general rule of thumb is at least 1500g and at least 2 years old

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Thats my minimum as well;)

18 month old female pewter at 1400+/- grams and she produced 5 large eggs.
18 month old Pastel at 1300+/- grams and produced 4 eggs.
5 year old pastel at 2400 grams and produced 4 eggs.
7 year old het pied at 5500+/- grams and produced 14 eggs.

I don't think age matters as much as weight. Females are probably fertile at 800 grams believe it or not. I'm not saying it's healthy to breed them at this weight, but I do think it's possible. BTW, I voted over 1200 grams.

Minimum breeding weight, over 1500 grams--I won't breed lighter than that. I didn't answer the poll since it only goes up to " over 1200", and is too vague--1300 is too light to breed a female, IMO.

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Originally Posted by Brandon Osborne

18 month old female pewter at 1400+/- grams and she produced 5 large eggs.
18 month old Pastel at 1300+/- grams and produced 4 eggs.
5 year old pastel at 2400 grams and produced 4 eggs.
7 year old het pied at 5500+/- grams and produced 14 eggs.

I don't think age matters as much as weight. Females are probably fertile at 800 grams believe it or not. I'm not saying it's healthy to breed them at this weight, but I do think it's possible. BTW, I voted over 1200 grams.

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Holy crap Brandon! Can I have that giant female of yours?? LOL Awesome!

Although I do use 1500 grams as a minimum I do believe there are exceptions. I like to look at the age and girth of the snake. I have had a real long snake that was 1500 and 3 years old but still way to skinny and also I have seen a 4 year old snake that never got very long/big at al, ate welll and was a stubby one but seemed healthy enough to breed at 1300.

To me 1500 is a general weight but there are other factors that could change that. The key is to recognize the snakes overall age and condition and make a logical decsion.