Hello there.
I'd say a good safe age to start breeding BHP's is 3 to 4.
But, keep in mind there are many factors involved.

Some keepers have been able to push their animals to breed in 2 years but, I'd be very wary of doing that with BHPs.
I know a few keepers now that have bred early like this....had a good run for 2, 3 or 4 years....and now their BHPs don't breed.

So, is it better to push them and get a head start on breeding.....only to have them "burn out" and produce only a few years....or do you raise the animal moderately and have a full good 10 to 15 year run... breeding the animals?

Push a BHP to breeding too fast......and you'll have fat, over weight snakes..... that will only breed for a few years.
Seen it.... over and over and over again.

Feed them moderate, small meals often....and take your time.
Also, remember, BHPs don't eat a large diet of rodents in the wild....in fact, less than 5%.
It doesn't help the fact that.... we're feeding them a 100% diet of fats and proteins in these rodents.... they don't eat.
I've know guys who have killed adult BHPs by feeding them large rats.
Be careful!!!!

My 6 and 8 foot BHPs have only ever gotten small rats.....they may get 2 or 3 but, they burn through small rodents much better than large ones.
Their digestive systems are not made to eat a full diet of fat filled rats.

Cheers,
D.

[ Show Entire Thread ]