Female breeding weight question.....???

[rj1204]

I have been doing research, reading, watching YouTube instructional videos, etc. getting ready to breed BP's. I had BP's when I was a kid so they are not new to me at all. I built a pretty good rack out of melamine with 3" flexwatt belly heat and my temps are good. I listened to many people on the forums and went ahead and bought sub-adult females, almost all 08's......I didn't want to buy proven females in case I got problem breeders but I did not want to wait for hatchlings to mature. I now have three 900-1000 gram normal females, two 950 gram female pastels, and one 1750 gram female pastel.

I have one male 700g bumble bee and I was going to breed him to all of them. The breeders I bought them from advised I could breed them this winter, which is 7 months from now. I know some people think 1500 grams is the minimum weight, but most of the research I have done advise 1200g is perfectly fine. So far, they are eating well on F/T every 7 days. I will weigh them again in a month and see where I am at.

Will my 900-1000 gram girls be ready if they continue to eat and put on weight by next breeding season? Does a 2500 gram girl put out more eggs then a 1500g or is that strictly a genetic thing? Thanks for any advice!

[stratus_020202]

The general rule is 1500. Of course, if they are ready to breed, they will breed. Size really doesn't figure into maturity. I mean, honestly, there aren't people seperating them in the wild until they are of proper weight.

Just remember, the bigger the female, the more eggs you are going to get. From my research, if you breed a smaller female and she only throws you 5 eggs, she's only going to throw you 5-6 eggs for most of her life. But, that's my understanding.

I have an 08 that was 1500 grams in november last year, and I tried to breed her. Of course, she was too young and didn't take. I also heard someone here has an older female who is only about 1000 g's and not getting any bigger.

It's all about how patient you are, and what you are wanting out of your females.

Good luck!!!

[chago11]

I started mine at 1200 grams I have seen people breed them at 1000 grams. As for the size letting them have more eggs is not always true. My buddy had a 2300+ gram girl lay 7 eggs and a 1300 gram girl lay 9 eggs.

[West Coast Jungle]

From the size of females you listed 7 months from now those girls should be substainally larger, if they are feeding normally, and be near 1500 grams, which is what I like. I also go by the girth of the snake and age. Her third winter is usually your best chance of success and I like to see her thick like a BP egg.

[Rock star Reptile]

Alot has to do with when your snake is ready and when you feel ready yourself. Knowing that your 1200 gram snake may go off feed for quite some time even after laying then you will have to weigh out the risk factor you are willing to take. Among other risks with breeding to young. Such as binding. I have not seen this in person but have heard that it is more common in younger snakes. Then I guess it is also about how many eggs you are trying to get. Not that the weight will 100% determine how many but it plays a big factor.
I do wish you luck and many healthy clutchs..

[rj1204]

Yeah, hopefully they keep eating well. If they do, they should be close to 1500 grams. I found a normal female adult that is 3000 grams and thought about buying her. I wanted to stick with my 6 females until I got more experience and more males to breed.

I won't breed any of my girls if they are not looking nice and fat and don't gain good weight. I am not in it for the money, I just want to have nice clutches and enjoy breeding them.......some nice Killer Bees or Super Pastels would be nice too!