Clutch sizes

[KingPythons]

I've seen breeders have a good big female plop out a nice size clutch one year and the next time they breed, her clutch size grows by one more egg.

I just wonder has anybody gone from 4 eggs one season to the next time around just having double that or close to double in clutch size? Does age or weight play a part?

(Example)
Past: 1500 grams 3 1/2 years of age; clutch size 6...
Present: 2200 5 years old; clutch size 9

Is it possible or pretty much what you got first breeding you can't expect much next breeding?

[ImBooBy]

Yeah. Had an 07 lay her first time had 4 eggs. A year later bumped her up to 2500 grams and she dropped 9 eggs. In my personal experience, the size of the female is more important than the age. But ofcourse it does depend on the female. Had a 2000+gram female lay 6 eggs three times in a row.

[KingPythons]

Yeah. Had an 07 lay her first time had 4 eggs. A year later bumped her up to 2500 grams and she dropped 9 eggs. In my personal experience, the size of the female is more important than the age. But ofcourse it does depend on the female. Had a 2000+gram female lay 6 eggs three times in a row.

Gives me hope I always assumed once that clutch size 4ever that clutch size. But hey 6 is nice, at least you know that females very in that aspect.

[RichsBallPythons]

On average a female that was bread small and say lays 4-6 eggs will generally be in that area for life. Some do if they pack on weight well gain 1-3 more eggs next season or never gain more than first.

Ive gotten females that will lay 6 each year and no more. And some big girls that lay 6-11.

Health and overweight females does play a HUGE role in what they can produce.

[KingPythons]

On average a female that was bread small and say lays 4-6 eggs will generally be in that area for life. Some do if they pack on weight well gain 1-3 more eggs next season or never gain more than first.

Ive gotten females that will lay 6 each year and no more. And some big girls that lay 6-11.

Health and overweight females does play a HUGE role in what they can produce.

What is considered small though ?

[RichsBallPythons]

Small is in the eye of beholder. Each persons breeding guidelines are different and small is diff to each person

[KingPythons]

Small is in the eye of beholder. Each persons breeding guidelines are different and small is diff to each person

I can dig that, but in your opinion are we talking 2-3 years old 1200 gram'r?

[SlitherinSisters]

I had the opposite happen to me this year. Last year my girl that was right around 1,700 grams and she laid 7 eggs. This year she was 2,000 grams and only laid 5. It was a real bummer Hopefully I have better luck next year if she lays for me again.

[RichsBallPythons]

the number of eggs depends on soo many variables its hard to know what caused what.

I start all my females with pairings once their 1200+g. My 2009 female laid for me. She was 1300g first day of pairing. Week before Ovulation she was 1700g. While gravid she was 2000g. After laying and and back on food shes at 1500g.

Pairing at 1200g early in Fall season they will gain A LOT of weight due to heavy feedings.

My 2010s are at 1000-1200 now on 3 day feedings right now. One more month and ill go back to 5 day feedings. males Still stay on their 7-10 day feedings all year.

[snakesRkewl]

All of the proven breeders we bought got fed up huge and dropped larger clutches than they had in the past.

Last season.........................this season

Normal 07 female 6 eggs ~ 10 eggs this season
Normal 07 female 5 eggs ~ 9 eggs this season
Albino 02 female 5 eggs ~ 9 eggs this season
Normal 06 female 6 eggs ~ 8 eggs this season