I just love 800g females!

[Gary Orner]

2500 g females get egg bound genius! It happens...

Shoot I know not a Ball Python but a friend had his 18 foot Burm go egg Bound a few seasons back.

[Gloryhound]

A Ball Python is a Ball Python! I'll not post any more of my Breeding habits here, If any of you want to breed a ball buy a book...

I wouldn't go that far, but since I am new my comfort level isn't that high yet from everything from selecting what to breed to what, how to determine it is ready being 1500 grams or any weight, all the pre-shed lays, when the eggs come how to get them away from the mom, setting up the incubator and shoe boxes going into it, when eggs start hatching what to do, when do you need to cut eggs,... The list goes on and on. Once I am more comfortable and a more experienced breeder the info you present on the subject of breeding lighter weight females might actually help out a lot or give me a serious eye opening to further possibilities. Also what do I do when our bumblebee doesn't make 1500 grams in 4 years! I find it very interesting that 800 gram female balls can safely lay eggs.

A couple of questions I would like to ask if I decide to attempt something similar when I am more experienced are:

1. Do you take any other safety precautions when they are on the lighter side?

2. When selecting a male to breed to it do you try to keep the male smaller than her or does it matter?

3. Have you ever lost any female regardless of weight do to complications while laying eggs?

4. I've heard if you attempt to breed a female at too young of an age she may lay all slugs and then actually take a year or so off without any laying of eggs. Do you believe this true and have you experienced it?

I'm sure I'll have more questions later if I ever decide to do anything even remotely similar to what you are doing, but answers to the above questions would give me good food for thought!

Thanks!

[Tosha_Mc]

For what it's worth - I don't have any problems with John breeding as he does - he has the experience, knows his snakes and their limits - I enjoy seeing his breeding posts - I just wish he'd put a disclaimer in his first post thereby eliminating the constant bickering that ensues.

And you know someone without the experience will try to put an 800 gram juvie female in with a 300 gram spider and end with problems - because John did it - and that is not saying that it is Johns fault or responsibility - just that a lot of people aren't too bright and in todays society you need to cater to the lowest common denominator. Sad but true.

[joepythons]

Folks if you look at it this way.Do you think when these ball pythons come together in the wild and love is in the air.Do you think they ask each other if they are old enough or large enough? I can bet they dont! Now i agree this option on breeding the females at a smaller size is not for everyone but John shows it works for him.How does he do this? By years of experiance and knowing his snakes

[West Coast Jungle]

Not sure where to start but lets start with the wieght.

I have seen WC gravids come into this county at around 1200 grams. That is right before they are going to lay. So what does this mean. It probably bred around 800 grams.

Do I breed this small. Nope but am I going to beat up Jas for doing it? NOPE. He said that he has not had issues with these snakes breeding at 800 grams. Age has a lot to do with it also.

The Wild Egg layers that we have seen in the states the last few years for sale show you. There are some 1500 to 2500 gram females. BUT REMEMBER they are gravid that is not their true wieght. But you see a lot of 1100 to 1300 gravids. That means these snakes are breeding at or around 800 to 900 grams.

The reason I do not breed that small is I am not worried about producing eggs early I would like to give the female another year instead of breeding her smaller.

Is there anything wrong with it? Who am I to say. I like my females around 1500 grams. If they are 1300 and ready cool. If they are 1700 cool.

Jas is not losing his females right? He posted something that has been done by many. Believe me others that many look up to have done the same thing.

Shoot I know people that shove food down a males throat to try to get them to "breeder wieght" in 6 months.

Do I agree with breeding females at 800? No But I also am not going to beat up Jas over doing it. Why should you?

Great post

[JASBALLS]

Folks if you look at it this way.Do you think when these ball pythons come together in the wild and love is in the air.Do you think they ask each other if they are old enough or large enough? I can bet they dont! Now i agree this option on breeding the females at a smaller size is not for everyone but John shows it works for him.How does he do this? By years of experiance and knowing his snakes

Most people must not of seen that she is over 5 years old and doesnt grow.. She eats a few months a year then she stops. She is Heathy and Gravid again So.... Should I sell her to a pet store or something because she only lays 3-4 eggs? My 4800g female laid 3 eggs one year.. 3-15.. Makes no difference to me.. As long as they are HEALTHY!

[Rapture]

3-15.. Makes no difference to me..

Unless we're talking about female breeder rats... now that's a different story... lol!

[JASBALLS]

Unless we're talking about female breeder rats... now that's a different story... lol!

I hate rats!!

[frankykeno]

I was to understand that they should be around 1200 grams. thats what i as told by people on these forums. Not saying you cantdo it earlier but i thought it wasnt safe for the animal. Oh well I was misinformed i guess. Well good luck on the projects and make sure to post lots of pics of those little babies when they hatch. I love baby bp's

No you weren't misinformed. Information comes from various sources, reflects various opinions and methods. You were informed before in those other threads you read, you're being informed again in this thread. It's information, pure and simple. What you decide to do with it, well that's up to you.

A Ball Python is a Ball Python! I'll not post any more of my Breeding habits here, If any of you want to breed a ball buy a book...

John, just because someone questions you or wants to know more is not an automatic reason to toss your hands up and give up, at least not in my book. You are posting about something different, something new to a lot of folks. Didn't you expect people to question the validity of your methods or ask for more information?

Personally, I don't feel comfortable with 800 gram female breeders because, like Robin, I'm far too new to breeding snakes to step outside that comfortable box quite yet. The more information you share though, helps me think about possibilities. I can't consider those other options though if I don't have information about risk factors, outcomes, etc. That's where informative posts helps me and others like me, to understand more fully about the choices you make with your breeders.

[JASBALLS]

No you weren't misinformed. Information comes from various sources, reflects various opinions and methods. You were informed before in those other threads you read, you're being informed again in this thread. It's information, pure and simple. What you decide to do with it, well that's up to you.



John, just because someone questions you or wants to know more is not an automatic reason to toss your hands up and give up, at least not in my book. You are posting about something different, something new to a lot of folks. Didn't you expect people to question the validity of your methods or ask for more information?

Personally, I don't feel comfortable with 800 gram female breeders because, like Robin, I'm far too new to breeding snakes to step outside that comfortable box quite yet. The more information you share though, helps me think about possibilities. I can't consider those other options though if I don't have information about risk factors, outcomes, etc. That's where informative posts helps me and others like me, to understand more fully about the choices you make with your breeders.

I understand that Jo. But when people come on and tell me how my stuff will die, get egg bound, not worth breeding because of small clutches. With out haveing any expirence doing this I lose my temper. If I had a problem Trust me I would post it! Remeber my post about that crazy female yanking my yb out of my hands and wrapping him? I'm not ashamed of anything. Its all new to me also so I share how I can..

See I make no sence when I type!!