Opinions on breeding young / small females

[stevenkeogh]

I personally believe that it is better that most don't have the experiences to share with the rest. Shows restraint and commitment to upholding a higher standard of treatment to the animals that we are claiming to have profound respect for.
I for one will never have the first-hand knowledge of whether a 1 kilo female can successfully breed.
There's always next year.
-Steven

[Gloryhound]

From other discussions that I have had, I have came to the conclusion that it will not hurt the female to try to breed her if she is too small or too young. If she is not ready, she will not go. If she is, then she will. No harm done. What are your thoughts?

I've heard it both ways. From long time breeders on both sides of the coin. Most long time breeders that did discuss the breeding of smaller snakes also made a point of saying "you have to know how to read your animals before trying this." With that said I don't think any first year breeder can read their animals sufficiently enough to make that call.

At this time for my wife and I we decided that when dealing with living animals, particularly considering they are pets as well as breeders, it is best to error more on the side of caution using 1500 Grams as a minimum weight for females. I know some on the site use an even more conservative number of 1800 or more grams.

Additionally I would think smaller babies run more risks than larger ones. Smaller eggs come from smaller females. A beginning breeder would have to be in a really big hurry, kinda like a business deadline, to risk not only the mommy snake, but also the babies.

If a beginner can't just sit back and wait it out the extra year, go get a large enough female to breed as they are forsale. If they can not afford the large normal girl to breed then wait another year. If you can't do one of those things then I have to ask what was that persons reason for getting into Ball Pythons in the first place? Our Ball Pythons are pets first and formost. Would I like to start breeding some of the morph females I have in my collection right now? You bet! Will I? Unfortunately only one Het made weight this year and with any luck we have a pastel female and an Albino female who are just 100 to 200 grams light (when empty) that may get a chance late in the year if everything else is looking good! On a side note we have 3 normal females that we bought at breeding weight, last spring, that are already paired up and messin with the guys!

[jsmorphs2]

Aint it a shame most of the guys that have the experience to edumacate us on the odds of breeding young females and the rate of fatal or injurious mishaps is severely lacking in online forums?

I agree. You never want to endanger your animals with bad husbandry practices.

[Wh00h0069]

I personally believe that it is better that most don't have the experiences to share with the rest. Shows restraint and commitment to upholding a higher standard of treatment to the animals that we are claiming to have profound respect for.
I for one will never have the first-hand knowledge of whether a 1 kilo female can successfully breed.
There's always next year.
-Steven

I thought that forums were here for discussion. I am trying to discuss with fellow herpers to find out if breeding small / young females is harmful or not.

[Wh00h0069]

I've heard it both ways. From long time breeders on both sides of the coin. Most long time breeders that did discuss the breeding of smaller snakes also made a point of saying "you have to know how to read your animals before trying this." With that said I don't think any first year breeder can read their animals sufficiently enough to make that call.

At this time for my wife and I we decided that when dealing with living animals, particularly considering they are pets as well as breeders, it is best to error more on the side of caution using 1500 Grams as a minimum weight for females. I know some on the site use an even more conservative number of 1800 or more grams.

Additionally I would think smaller babies run more risks than larger ones. Smaller eggs come from smaller females. A beginning breeder would have to be in a really big hurry, kinda like a business deadline, to risk not only the mommy snake, but also the babies.

If a beginner can't just sit back and wait it out the extra year, go get a large enough female to breed as they are forsale. If they can not afford the large normal girl to breed then wait another year. If you can't do one of those things then I have to ask what was that persons reason for getting into Ball Pythons in the first place? Our Ball Pythons are pets first and formost. Would I like to start breeding some of the morph females I have in my collection right now? You bet! Will I? Unfortunately only one Het made weight this year and with any luck we have a pastel female and an Albino female who are just 100 to 200 grams light (when empty) that may get a chance late in the year if everything else is looking good! On a side note we have 3 normal females that we bought at breeding weight, last spring, that are already paired up and messin with the guys!

All very good points. And good luck with your pairings.

[Gloryhound]

All very good points. And good luck with your pairings.

Thanks, and good luck with your projects as well!

[stevenkeogh]

I thought that forums were here for discussion. I am trying to discuss with fellow herpers to find out if breeding small / young females is harmful or not.

And my post was a reply to the one stating that they thought it was a shame that the people with the first-hand experience to share were not here to do so.
Maybe, but it is much better than having multitudes of individuals possibly putting snakes in jeopardy by breeding them under weight.
If this is a discussion then why is the validity of my post being questioned?
You wanted opinions, there is mine.
If you are just looking for reassurance when breeding young females then maybe you should have posted something along those lines.
-Steven

[stevenkeogh]

If there was absolutely no danger I'm pretty confident that there would be no 1500g guideline.
I should clarify, the 1500g rule is the consensus up here in Canada.
Seems that the forums frequented by mostly Americans prefer 1200g.
They are your animals, nobody is going to be able to stop you from endangering any of them. So I hope for your success.
-Steven

[MDB]

From other discussions that I have had, I have came to the conclusion that it will not hurt the female to try to breed her if she is too small or too young. If she is not ready, she will not go. If she is, then she will. No harm done. What are your thoughts?

I feel the same way but still needs to be atleast 1200 in my opinion or very close to it

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Aint it a shame most of the guys that have the experience to edumacate us on the odds of breeding young females and the rate of fatal or injurious mishaps is severely lacking in online forums?

Yep!