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Age or size?

tmh7 Sep 21, 2007 08:37 AM

If a female is 1 1/2 years old and weighs 1400grams will she breed. How important is the age? I see ads that state that a female is breedable because of her weight but doesn't age have to factor into breeding too?

Replies (4)

ginebig Sep 21, 2007 09:35 AM

In my opinion, sexual maturity has more to do with breedability( is that a word?) than size. Sexual maturity in Ball females is reached at about three years of age. Certainly there are exceptions, but I think it's in he best intrest of the female to allow her to "come of age" so to speak.

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

JenHarrison Sep 22, 2007 01:37 AM

Just because a 12-year-old human can bear a child, doesn't mean she should. It would post MANY risks to her health. Same goes for any animal that breeds too early and isn't fully mature.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

John Q Sep 21, 2007 09:53 AM

She may breed and probably will. However, that does not mean that she will produce eggs. My '06 production was horrible. I used male visual morphs that all had the weight but not necessarily the age. All first time breeders. The females were a mix of first time breeders, 100% hets, and a few normal proven breeders.
This year I paired the same males and females. I got clutches from 10 out of 13 females. Last October I had a special female that was approximately 16 months old. I say approximate because she is CH/farmed. Awesome feeder that was up in the 1600 gram range and still feeding. She bred all season long and I got nothing. I think age is the factor because I had other females, older but lighter, and they produced. Also, the male that I bred to her sired 2 other clutches.
As for the males, they all did great this year. I only had 1 egg that was infertile from the start. First egg out and the female pushed it aside. I put it back into the cluster of eggs 2X and she pushed out 2 more times. I incubated it and within a couple of days it was moldy.

jmartin104 Sep 21, 2007 11:36 AM

You will get lots of arguments on this, but in reality, it's likely a combination of both.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

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