Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I read that people will breed their females as early as 6-8 weeks and some wait till 16 weeks of age. How do you determine if your breeders are able to breed? Do you also take into consideration the weight of the female? If so, how many grams is the ideal weight?

I'm not exactly scientific about it. I do prefer to let females get to 10-12 weeks before breeding BUT, if I need to start another litter and don't have a previously bred female or an old enough virgin, then I use whatever I have. I try to keep a tub with a dozen(ish) females in it to raise up for breeders. If I've been good about keeping it stocked, then there are older females ready to go. I select by physical size and color needed/wanted for the breeding tub she's going into.

I "cycle" breed, introduce a female to a male for impregnation and remove female for raising litter. Each female has a history tag that follows her arround so I know some details about her. Tag indicates color and duh, if I put two females the same color in the same tub, which is which? Sometimes can do with a older female and a much younger female
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, selectively bred from good stock)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
12.25 BRB
12.14 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

thanks for the help. I'll probably try to raise them up to at least 10 weeks of age to ensure they are old enough and large enough to breed.