When to start breeding?

[sorraia]

I'm curious to know how and when did you decide to start breeding ball pythons?

I'm trying to decide this for myself. I have a beautiful citrus yellowbelly girl who is at least 2 years old. I weighed her today, and she's over 1800g! Even with the rat in her belly from a few days ago, that's well over the 1500g minimum for breeding condition weight. I have a great specter male to breed her to, and hopefully get a super stripe. (Or better yet, a citrus super stripe!)

I'm just trying to figure out if I'm ready. Been doing some reading, but mostly informational, nothing overly serious. Have a fridge I can convert to an incubator, but haven't done that yet. I've been shown how to pop babies a couple times, but haven't tried it myself. My collection is up to 10 ball pythons, plus some other species, so I've got good experience raising snakes, but not an expert by any means. I've had snakes before these ones, so not brand new either. Just that touch of nervousness with making the jump. :/

[Badgemash]

The other biggie other than the incubator is housing, as long as you're prepared to give each one an appropriate home then I don't see why not. Although you may want to get some xanax too if you're the anxious type, breeding will drive you up a wall. Trying to get them to lock, getting pics of the lock, is she building or did she ovy, when is she going to lay, what kind of tub set up, is this egg any good, should I cut or not... the number of options and things to stress about is absurd.

[sorraia]

The other biggie other than the incubator is housing, as long as you're prepared to give each one an appropriate home then I don't see why not. Although you may want to get some xanax too if you're the anxious type, breeding will drive you up a wall. Trying to get them to lock, getting pics of the lock, is she building or did she ovy, when is she going to lay, what kind of tub set up, is this egg any good, should I cut or not... the number of options and things to stress about is absurd.

I think those possible anxieties are probably the biggest reason I haven't popped them together yet! Lol

[satomi325]

I look at a combination of things when considering a snake for breeding.
1) body condition
2) age-maturity
3) size.

Most people just blindly breed their females at 1500g.
But it's not just a set weight. You have to look at the snake's overall body condition and maturity too. A mature short chunky female at 1200 grams is a better breeding candidate than a long skinny 1800 gram girl, for example.
That 1200 gram girl has a better shot at enduring the breeding season with the better body condition and fat reserves than the skinny 1800 gram one. And some girls just never get large even though they can be a few years old.

[sorraia]

I look at a combination of things when considering a snake for breeding.
1) body condition
2) age-maturity
3) size.

Most people just blindly breed their females at 1500g.
But it's not just a set weight. You have to look at the snake's overall body condition and maturity too. A mature short chunky female at 1200 grams is a better breeding candidate than a long skinny 1800 gram girl, for example.
That 1200 gram girl has a better shot at enduring the breeding season with the better body condition and fat reserves than the skinny 1800 gram one. And some girls just never get large even though they can be a few years old.

She's definitely in good condition. Only based on pictures, she resembles the "building" pictures I've seen, except she hasn't been with any males since I got her (September I think). Not terribly long, definitely chunky. Very good weight and condition to her. I need to get some updated pictures of every one.

[Badgemash]

I think those possible anxieties are probably the biggest reason I haven't popped them together yet! Lol

Control everything you can, to the highest standard possible, for example use a good porportional thermostat on your incubator and a good fan etc. After you've controlled for as many variables as you can, the rest becomes a good exercise in 'letting go.' Get yourself in a zen state, because the rest is up to her, and there's nothing else you can do.

[brock lesser]

I would get the bator up and running smoth before you start, that will take some pressure off.
Have a plan to sell the offspring or to house and care for the one's you dont.
Then hang on and enjoy the ride!

[PitOnTheProwl]

As everyone else already posted, JUST DO IT
If you are thinking about increasing the size of your collection then an attempt wouldn't hurt.
I started to get into genes I couldn't afford and just for the fun of it.
Granted Im sure my blood pressure and stress levels have gone up a ton.

[mechnut450]

the only warnings I can express:
that you have the possible room to house any hatchlings until you find them new homes. ( I had a het albino girl fro almost 2 years before I found her a home, that a lot of food and such)
the second is can you supply the food as needed I seen some snakes that want to eat almost every other day if I let them. lol

[sorraia]

Fortunately I have a breeding colony of rats, so don't have to worry about food. I normally have low blood pressure any way (sometimes too low) so maybe this would help that! Ha!