This is a subject that comes and goes in many conversations, and I think it deserves its own specific thread.

It is my belief that one is better off getting younger females and raising them up to breed instead of purchasing older females. There are a few different reasons for this.

It is quite common for a female of breeding weight and age to NOT want to go for at least a year after getting rehomed.... To take that one step further though, with a few exceptions breeders aren't exactly interested in selling their best breeders. For example, when it comes time for a breeder to sell 5 of his 20 normal female breeders to make room for other stuff, what ones are they likely to sell? I'll tell you:

1.) A snake that just laid last year and is not getting up to wait very quick and likely won't go the next year. (this could be a 2,000 gram girl! you have no idea how much she weight prior to weighing her last clutch!!!)

2.) A snake that tends to lay a high percentage of bad eggs

3.) A snake that won't produce at all

4.) A snake that only produces every other year or worse

5.) A problem feeder

6.) A snake that despite large size only lays 2 or 3 eggs each year

7.) Ultimately a snake that they have determined to be no longer worth keeping as a breeder compared to their other breeders.

So really the question is would you rather start with a young snake that you can raise up correctly and have the best chances of producing healthy kids? Or would you rather rush and buy someone elses older snake that for probably more reason then one they decided was no longer worth their trouble keeping... Even though they already put the time and money into raising it to a breeding age... Or maybe they bought someone elses undesirables too...

Of course there are some situations where a breeder does sell an excellent breeding snake just because he is done producing a certain morph. These are in my opinion few and far between, and when you do find one you can be assured that they will command a higher price.

I think a lot of people rush into things and then they run in to trouble for some of the reasons mentioned above. It is important for both newbees and intermediate breeders to keep these things in mind.

Please share your thoughts!