Breeder Male Weights 1000g - or +

[Mark1887]

A lot of the time I am seeing people having male's kept at around the 700-900g weight and trying to keep them on the light side I guess ? With the idea that a smaller lighter male I guess will be less lazy ? I have no idea about this being proven but from my own experience so far I have found my larger males that are well over 1,000g's tend to lock faster, longer and more successful at getting a lock.
My self I think 1000 is a good weight but I really like my bigger male's that sit around 1300 up to 1600g.
Only male's under 1k I paired past season was my 900g lesser who had 1 lock and my Pin 775g who had 2-3 (both had about 8 pairings offered)
vs
1200g Het Red Axanthic 7 locks
1400g Mojave 9 locks
1400g Spider Het SK Axanthic 7 locks
1500g Dinker (2 locks out of only 2 pairings I gave him)
1800g Cinnamon 11 locks

That's just how my boys did, every snake is different but I'd like to see what most of you prefer your male breeder's to sit at > 1000g or <

[dillan2020]

I personally like larger males. they just seem to get the job done quicker. I put the smaller males in and sometimes it will be days or even weeks before they entice the female into a lock. I have a couple males I use that are over 2k grams and within 5 minutes they have a lock. they don't need to entice the female they just take it.

[bcr229]

I said over 1000 grams, but that's because the smaller ones have me pulling my hair out because they're just... not... eating...

[MarkS]

My breeder males are whatever weight they need to be at to be healthy and active, most of mine are under 1000g. I've found that a males breeding success has more to do with age than weight. My 4+ year old males know they're job well despite their weight. I've had males breed at 6 months old before but that can be pretty hit or miss.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I have proven breeder males that are anywhere from 650 to 1000+ grams, they weigh what they weigh I do not try to keep their weight under a certain number, I just feed them like any other animals.

[brock lesser]

If I had my way they would be between 900 - 1200 but they are what they are.
I won't withhold or power feed to get or keep them in that range.

[alan1]

My males are offered food as frequently as the females, and over the years i've had quite a few boys go 2kg+

Why? - It makes sense that naturally smaller/slower growing parents will generally tend to throw smaller/slower growing offspring, and because of that, i wouldn't want to be holding back females that possibly took 3 years+ to reach 1200-1500g
whereas offspring from the larger parents could/should comfortably hit 2500g(+) in the same timeframe (weights used are just an example)

By feeding my males well, i can clearly see which ones are going to be the bigger boys. Therefore, i can set up my pairings accordingly, and confidently hold back offspring from those guys which stand a far better chance of growing BIGGER and get there QUICKER
by keeping all your males on a diet, you're playing a guessing game because you would never have known

I might be wrong, but i reckon alot of people who keep their males small are doing it simply to save money (less food)


By the way, I'm more than happy at my results so far - And as for big males supposedly being lazy breeders?...... Haha

[Mark1887]

I agree on the people trying to save money! I offer smaller meals every week unless they got a big meal then its every 13 days, my female's always get the bigger meal's but it really is based on what size rat's i have in my feeder bin's ready to be fed off. I can see if the snake just does not eat as much and is staying at the 700-800-900g area that's just the snake. I just don't get when people say "I like to keep them that way" pretty much mean's they under feed and not to kick anyone's technique in the hobby but I feel most of the time the people saying it are the one's buying 600-1000g male, bringing it home throwing it at every female possible then trying to resell the snake all within a short period of time before the snake is even back on feed if he went off. Just to flip a quick profit and I guess build a collection that way? It seems to be a popular thing to do from what iv seen lately.

[grcforce327]

If they get the job done,I don't see what difference it makes.

[angllady2]

That really gets on my nerves. People who insist on underfeeding males because of some stupid myth that is perpetuated they will breed better. It is complete nonsense. You wouldn't starve your son to try and keep him from having sex, and this makes about as much sense.

Some males will naturally be smaller. It has little to do with food, and a lot to do with genetics. But, there is nothing saying a small male cannot produce good offspring. Some males get quite large. I have one who's 2500 grams + he's my workhorse. He fasts like any other male, and breeds very well. I use him on reluctant females, because he's big enough that he doesn't take no for an answer. Some of my smaller males can't get a reluctant female to lock. My pastel doesn't put up with that.

In my mind, males should be fed regularly just like a female. He will decide when to eat, and he will grow as he is meant to. He will also breed as he was meant to.

Now, that is not to say an overweight male won't breed poorly, any snake that is overweight will make a poor breeder, male or female. But to purposefully starve a male to keep him small? That is cruelty plain and simple.

Gale