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