Males, breeding first year?

[Cubby23]

I was reading yet another article about ball python breeding the other day it said on some males it is possible to breed them the same year they were born. Like born in April breed in November. Can a male get up to a good weight of at least 600g by then safely? Does breeding so young hurt him in the long run?

[Aric]

I have heard before that Male Spiders can breed at a very early age, dont know if thats true of not but thats what I read. Cant remember where though

Edit: Here is a link that says Spiders can breed at an Early age Just scroll down and look at spiders (isnt much about them on there except for the early age breeding thing and a few other words) Theres another site somewhere cant seem to find it I know ill find it someday lol

[Adam_Wysocki]

Breeding is incredibly stressful on male ball pythons and young males often do not have the stamina or strength to be able to make it through a season of breeding without risking respiratory infection or worse.

Unless you really know what you're doing, how to identify a snake that might be on it's way to ri, and how to quickly and effectively recover a snake that is becoming ill, it's not a good idea. I've seen males breed at less than a year of age, but I've also seen some very expensive morphs get sick and die because they were bred too young.

Not a gamble that I personally like to make.

-adam

[frankykeno]

I think for the average home breeder it's not a good idea at all to breed your male in the same year he was born. For a very experienced breeder with a lot of years and a lot of male snakes under his/her belt, then they perhaps can make that judgement call based on all that experience. For most of us I think it's best to wait or at the very least seek the advice of a trust, experienced breeder to help make that decision.

We have a young male who is just approaching his first breeding season. Malachi was hatched June 05 and is a very healthy 770 grams empty as of last week. We're quite happy to give him the time he needs to be a great size for this fall and heck if he's not ready then, so be it. Mike and I were advised when we decided that we'd like to breed BP's that it's all about patience and a long term goal (gee who was it that said it's a chess game not checkers? LOL )

We figure as much as we value and would not push our females to breed before they AND we are ready, we certainly won't push any male we have either. They are all just far too precious to us and heck there's always next season!

[rabernet]

They are all just far too precious to us and heck there's always next season!

True - AND that give ME more time to buy the things I need (like incubator - hatchling rack.....and the list goes on and on and on and on!)

Even if they NEVER breed (gosh I hope I didn't jinx myself) I just love all mine to pieces and just being able to enjoy them is rewarding in and of itself!