Chad, Thanks for your comments. I really enjoy talking about this, and I don’t mind sharing my ideas. I usually won’t reply to questions such as this in email form unless they are from Customers of mine. However, I don’t mind posting this, because of people being able to refer back to this post in a few months when I get asked the same questions. Repetition is boring especially when it takes a long time to type the answer. I am a fast at typing, so I don’t mind long posts. LOL

Question 1: It really depends on the females. Some females will breed year in and year out. The longest and most consecutive female breeding is 6 years. The female was a LARGE Boa that really got pregnant very fast. I would notice she would get pregnant quicker and quicker in the year with 2 years being only 9 months a part. I always thought of giving her a rest, but she put on the weight so quickly after birth and her births were quite easy with few slugs. So, when I was about to give her a year off, She would always have these Big follicles again, and so I would breed her. However, LAST YEAR she died after giving birth. So, I really don’t know how good that really was!!!!!! I usually judge a female by the weight she has put on. After seing my Favorite Female die after being bred 6 years consecutively and giving 7 litters for me, I decided to take it a little easier. Right now, I have a few boas breeding that have gone 2 or 3 years and still look promising for the year we are currently in. However, it really is a case by case situation. Females that haven’t been sick or had anything go wrong in the off season seem to be ok to breed. Sometimes breeding takes a TON out of a female, and it is good to give her a rest. I think I’m going to limit my females at 3 years in a row, and give them a break regardless of the follicle size the next year. Also, I have noticed that the Smaller Imperators seem to breed quite easy and put the weight back on easier then the Columbians, but this is another topic. So, in conclusion, it is a case by case basis. Your animals really can tell you a lot by the way they act. IF you pay close attention, they’ll tell you if they can handle another breeding season.

Question 2: I’m in the process of building a new 6800 square foot Reptile Breeding Facility. Right now, I have 6 humidifiers that I run in the rooms, and I also do a lot of misting. The humidity is about 70 percent. They like it more humid though. I don’t live in a humid climate, so I have to provide more humidity then others would in more humid regions of the Country. I would image a Breeder in say Des Moines, Iowa, would not have to keep his room as humid especially in the summer because it is very humid there. Same with the Southern States. I also notice that spraying the floor and getting it all wet keeps the room very humid. In my new Buidling, I’m using In floor Radiant Heat. That will be a lot easier to keep humid. I will spray the floors, and the heat will be enough to cause the room to be very humid. I have an in floor drain system being put in as well, so that will be awesome. I can’t wait!!!!!!

Question 3: I introduce my males for breeding in mid to later November. In the beginning of November, they are fed their last meal. Some of those males will not be put in with females until January though. I really do more selective breeding now, then I used to in the past. It is easier if you have a few room to keep separate animals in. I have that luxury right now, but it is EXTREEMLY crowded. I breed during the cooling down process. I know some breeders don’t introduce the males until the warming season, but I notice that the follicles of the females are quite large in the cooling process, and the males really like to breed, so I allow this. I also breed some males much later in the year. Right now, I’m still trying to get 1 or 2 young males to breed. I am now breeding young males to only 1 female. Even if that male is 5 feet. If he is only 18 months, that is all he gets. Stretching your males thin is one of the worst mistakes you can make!!!!! Boas are unlike Ball Pythons. I will put a male ball with as many as 10 females. They breed sooo much different then the males, and the Balls don’t court like the Boas. THEY BREED!!!! (I am kidding, they do court a little, but nothing like a Boa).

Question 4: Very Important question. Weight is a hard judge. I have bred Columbians that are 8 lbs. However, the bloodlines of the animals were always smaller then the others. Also, Hypo Boas that have some Central Bloodline down the road can breed a LOT smaller then Columbians. I prefer my Columbians to be a minimum 12 pounds though. That is a good average weight. The better Judge is AGE instead of weight. I will NEVER breed a female under 2 and ½. I have done it in the past and I have killed a lot of Boas in the Past!!!!!!!! I was very impatient, and I lost animals unnecessarily. I think it is irresponsible for ME to allow a female to breed young as it really shortens the life span IN MY OPINION!!!!!! Right now we have an 18 month old Double Dose GHOST!!! She is 12 Pounds and has follicles that are 18 mm’s. I know for a fact I could breed her and she could probably go and give a litter. IT could be slugs, but it could be good babies and a future death sentence on this beautiful animal. These are just my opinions, and others could experience things different, but his is my take.

Again, Hope it helps. Later, Jeremy

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