Thoughts On Breeding 2nd Year Females

[CoolioTiffany]

I know of many breeders who wouldn't breed their females if they were under three years old since females usually don't sexually mature until around that age.

I wanted to see your thoughts on this, and why you may or may not be against breeding females of under three years. I believe there may have been a thread a long while back on this same topic, but I would like to get some new and more recent opinions.

Last season I bred a female who was only around two and half at the start of the season, but had her eggs after she turned three years old. No slugs or noticeable complications during her pregnancy. I'm not too against on breeding females under three years, but they have to have a decent weight to them and eat consistently before I even pair.

[Jessica Loesch]

Tiff, I think if people look at factors, age and weight, and then are reasonable with those two things, then the last determinant is if she is ready, and she will decide that.

[mues155]

IMO a breedable female for me MUST be 3 years of age.
I just wont risk a higher chance of egg binding or other complications. Im not inpatient and I'd rather breed around my snakes well being and not just because I could do it a year early.

I just think age is more important than weight. This year I will be breeding a 3 year old 1200g female and I should have no problem. If I had a 2 year old 1500g+ I still wouldnt breed it.

Not to say people havnt had success breeding younger than 3, because I know they have but its just something I dont do.

[DemmBalls]

If they are at a healthy weight and two years or older...I will try breeding them. If they don't go, then they just don't go.

[aalomon]

I just wont risk a higher chance of egg binding or other complications.

I always see this when people bring up the topic of breeding younger females. Is there a thread somewhere that documents higher egg binding or complications that I missed? To me it seems that there is a higher chance of her just not going that year instead of a higher chance of medical issues.

[krinklebearcat]

The trend I've noticed since I started researching ball python breeding is that the minimum age and weight that people find acceptable seem to be going down...

Ultimately I'm always going to look out for what's best for the animals, and I don't see myself breeding any females that are under 3 years, or under 1500 grams. I will probably even wait until 1800+ for most, as I've heard many breeders say that the longer you wait to breed a female the first time, the larger clutches she'll give you for the first several years of breeding.

[RichsBallPythons]

Egg Binding will happen no matter how old,young,big,small a female is.

To say a female is 5 years old and 3000g dont make her less likely to get egg bound than a 1.5year old at 1500g. Too many factors play in the role of egg binding to say its this or that when its MANY.


Females mature a lot sooner than 2 years, Just cause they are mature, dont mean they will take. Pair them up and if she takes you will be first to know. Keep in mind, larger females dont give larger clutches. Again its more than size that plays a factor in production. i had a female lay her first clutch this year of 7 eggs at 1600g before she was 18 months.

[purplemuffin]

I guess it seems to come with experience and knowing your snake. If your snake is the size/age but you just don't think she's ready--maybe she's been going off feed, maybe she's just seeming a little off..Maybe you just want to wait til she's for sure old enough. I guess when in doubt, don't breed. If you know your snakes and know they are strong, a good weight, and healthy, than I guess it's up to the individual owner to know what is safe for their animal or not.

[jason_ladouceur]

Egg Binding will happen no matter how old,young,big,small a female is.

To say a female is 5 years old and 3000g dont make her less likely to get egg bound than a 1.5year old at 1500g. Too many factors play in the role of egg binding to say its this or that when its MANY.


Females mature a lot sooner than 2 years, Just cause they are mature, dont mean they will take. Pair them up and if she takes you will be first to know. Keep in mind, larger females dont give larger clutches. Again its more than size that plays a factor in production. i had a female lay her first clutch this year of 7 eggs at 1600g before she was 18 months.

^^^^
what they said.
I’ve heard lots of I heard from a buddy that his friend said story’s over the years, but almost no one I know has ever provided any proof that breeding females early causes health concerns. if she’s ready than she knows and she will breed. there is no one chasing after wild balls with a scale and a calendar after all and they have managed to somehow without our help figure it out for thousands of years.