Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just out of curiosity what is the average time span that it takes for people to get their females to breeding size? I'm sure there is a good range, but im just asking because im pretty new to the ball pythons and have noticed with the ones I have that they are really growing in different intervals. Unlike my burms, who are always pigs, and I can get to to breeding size in 1.5 years 90 % of the time, my ball pythons are just unpredictable. I have noticed over a little time that my females are really unpredictable, and so I just have to ask what the "norm" is (if there is one) for getting a female ball to size? I'm guessing 1.5 years on the quick side, and 2.5 on average.....

That sounds about right... I've been lucky so far...

I've gotten some up in 2, and the slow ones around 3...

Some in a year and a couple months even... Just depends on the snake, eh?
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www.HeathersHerps.com

-Ohh, what a Lady-

Balls for Life, Baby!

Just remember even if you get your female to weight - doesn't necessarily she will be ready (mature enough) to breed and ovulate. Usually 2-3 years until maturity some have done it successuflly at 18 months.
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Tosha

I think the concensus is @ the very minimum she should be1200 grams, most people I think will say 1500.

Also, if you have an expensive girl or one you care about even, thats really a great eater and you get her to 1200 grams in 15 -18 months, do you really want to chance her being harmed by laying eggs so soon?

If it's fall you can wait and try and get her to go in the springtime, but at that point you might want to just shoot for the following fall when you know shell most likely be ready?

For myself and others that I have spoken with, I hear about a 10% success rate for females to ovulate that were bred in their second winter (18 months) and were at least 1500 grams. Females need both the weight and maturity to successfully ovulate.

What generally seems to happen is that 18 month females that were eating well are cooled and stop eating, they breed but never ovulate, and come out of the winter fast weighing 1000-1200 grams. Some start eating well again, but others don't. So, some of the females end up being 1500 grams or so in their THIRD winter because they were cooled and bred in their second winter. If they had just been left to grow some more, they probably would have been 2000 grams plus in their third winter.

It makes the most sense for the sake of the animals and for the sake of your breeding success to wait until your females are in their third winter.

Just my $0.02.

Chris
Coils Select Serpents

I agree completely.
Just because they are at the magical number does not mean that they are ready.
I did make my comment previous only with respect to the size of the female.
I actually have not bred any female snakes that are less than three years old.
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www.HeathersHerps.com

-Ohh, what a Lady-

Balls for Life, Baby!