Where to get Breeding stock?

[Jimi_Reptile]

Hey, I am looking to start breeding norways and I have a few Questions. I have read that you can't just buy a few live from the petstore and breed, because they are second generation. What if you bought from a few seperate breeders and had mixed second generations, would that make new healthy blood, or make it just as worse? I am all new to this, I have my plan worked out, I just need to know how to get the breeding stock to begin

[littleindiangirl]

I recommend finding a feeder breeder in your area. Buy a group of females from them, and buy a few males from a pet store. This will ensure you will likely have unrelated groups. It's easy to line breed, or breed specifically females that have excellent large litters or make good mothers.

Remember to quarantine, and also look into treating everyone for parasites.

Don't be impatient, it can take a full year before you have a steady group of females that produce consistent large litters.

[tomfromtheshade]

If I were to start over I would find four large scale breeders in the area and get groups of breeding stock from all four. This was you have four different lines and you will be able to outcross them and keep your lines healthy.

[Jimi_Reptile]

I am willing to take the time on this, but time is a large concern, the reason I am looking to breed them is because I do not have $120 a week to feed all my snakes, so time is a large factor in this. I am going to have to feed my adult BP's very spaced out and my smaller BPs every other week and the only one I can afford to feed per week is my hatchling BP, only a week old and is eating pinks. So I need tog et this rolling ASAP.

So If I go to an Expo and buy 2 females from one breeder, two from another, and then 2 more from yet anohter, then buy a male from the pet store, I should be all set to go? As I said, I am new to this and am ready to learn.

[PghBall]

I am willing to take the time on this, but time is a large concern, the reason I am looking to breed them is because I do not have $120 a week to feed all my snakes, so time is a large factor in this. I am going to have to feed my adult BP's very spaced out and my smaller BPs every other week and the only one I can afford to feed per week is my hatchling BP, only a week old and is eating pinks. So I need tog et this rolling ASAP.

So If I go to an Expo and buy 2 females from one breeder, two from another, and then 2 more from yet anohter, then buy a male from the pet store, I should be all set to go? As I said, I am new to this and am ready to learn.

I would say that yes you could buy two females from three separate breeders at the Expo and get a male from the petstore. You would definitely rule out inbreeding right off the bat. But don't forget that it takes females 21-24 days from the time they conceive until they have the pups. It then takes 5 weeks for the pups to reach the size of a weaned rat. Depending on the size of rat your snake(s) require you will still be waiting at least 2-3 months or more (in the best case scenario)before you have feeder size rats.

[Jimi_Reptile]

I have researched that, and I am hoping to scrape up the money to feed once every two weeks for the time being. I just don't want this to turn into a 12 month fiasco, I have no problems taking my non-breeders off feed, as long as there is no unhealthy weight loss, my male fire has been off feed for 6 months and has lost only 85g. I hope to get this started and thanks everyone for your help!