Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Obviously bigger is better when deciding to cool a female, and breed her, but in your opinions what is the lowest gram weight you would breed a female at, and be comfortable with. I just got an 03 female in today that was advertized as an adult, but is only 102 grams, and too small for next years breeding. I'll try to get pics up soon. Thanks in advance for your replies.
Ken

Here are some pics of her. She's an 03 from Vivid.
Ken

From what i have been told(i havent had the opportunity to breed thayeri yet) 250g is minimum and 300g is better, i have an 03 female that is 265g that i hope to breed this year and i also have what was sold to me as an 03 that most defiantly needs another year. personally i would rather wait then take a chance of egg binding. keep her warm and on a good diet and hope for next year, that is what i am doing with that one female, hope that helped

Adam
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3.5 THAYERI
1.2 SPLENDIDA (1.0 ALBINO/ 0.2 HYPO)
1.3 ALTERNA
1.1 CAL KING (1.0 ALB.LAVENDER/0.1 BLIZZARD)
0.0.1 HOLD BACK RUNT ALBINO CORN
0.1.1 pyxie
0.0.2 horned frogs

Thanks Adam. That helped a lot. It's got me questioning another female of mine also. I'll weigh her tomorrow, but I don't think she's over 250g. This is her in the pic. I might hold her til next year.

I really like her head pattern and her color.

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Michelle

There are many different factors to consider, size and age are the two main ones. She looks too small and thin to breed to me. Some people cool their thayeri every year from the first year on. Those snakes are going to grow at a slower rate and not be of breeding size for three to four years. In the wild, I doubt they breed often before their fourth year and then they would still be what we consider small. I have seen a few wild gravid Cal Kings that look like yearlings to me but I’m sure they were several years old. An older snake that is on the small side may still be safe to breed if she has good weight. Personally I would not cool her, feed her all winter and then reevaluate in late spring if you want to try breeding her (without cooling). As for a specific weight, not sure, I never weighed mine. Just my 2 cents.

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Rick
Never Enough
Reptiles

I think Rick nicely summarized the situation. In the wild, mexicana-type kings likely breed at sizes smaller (both shorter and more lean) than is typical of captives. They have lower body mass relative to their length—no doubt a reflection of eating lots more lizards vs. rodents as they grow. Many of our captives look as though they've lived around the corner from an all-you-can-eat buffet. As for lower-end weights for breedable females, probably around 250-275 grams, but 300-plus is safer.

Cheers,

Bob

Bob, that thayeri laying is like candy cane red. She is beautiful, I love contrast and the red color on white is really neat.
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Michelle

I would not worry to much if your female is up to 50 grams under weight now (at brumation). I've been very successful getting them to put on up to 85 grams of weight right after they come out of brumation. ALL of my females become outright hogs right after they come out of brumation. I usually feed for about 4 -6 weeks before the females are ready to breed. The males are the total opposite. Most of mine will take a mouse or two and then go totally off feed until most of my females are bred.

These two put on 85 grams in one month this past spring before I bred them. They were both in the 190 gram range when the came out of brumation in late January this year. They both were at around 275 when they bred. Most of my other females gained around 50-60 grams. I put them to bed at around 310 grams last month.

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Vichris

Vichris Variables

Thank you all for the information. I sincerely appreciate it.
Ken

Chris,

Very nice leonis female...

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CSRAJim

Here she is as a pup.

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Vichris

Vichris Variables

Chris,

Looks like the "pup" is getting better with age...

Oh yeah, thanks for helping me find the "local breeder" for my female...I saw an AD posted in the kingsnake.com classifieds and contacted him...she has a pedigree now...couldn't have done it without you...

Later,
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CSRAJim