Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Dear all:

How many season on average is it usual for a breeding female python to be breeding for the big ten BP breeders? I am asking because I am curious if they ever retire their (esp NORMAL) female breeders.

I would guess that since breeding is very taxing on the females that they can't go on forever, esp. since they can give up a big percent of their body weight to eggs each season!

So, my question is: For how many seasons do the females breed? Also, Do the big ten ever sell their retired breeder females?

I am asking because i really Love large NORMAL ball pythons. This is the reason I am asking for a female. Females are generally lots larger. I love their thick bodies which feel like they have a lot of substance. I am not really interested in necessarily breeding. I am just looking for a large adult. I figure if retired (normal) breeders are for sale, I may be able to get a bargain on a very large and big BP. For example, Markus Jayne's site says that he has 4700 gram females. If I could buy a retired one of those, I would literally be in hog HEAVEN! and I would be smiling ear to ear! (see the smile?!)

Please shed some light on this very curious question which I have.

Tahnyou in advance. Please help! I really need it!

cheers.

P.s. please have great Ball Python DAy!
-----
Longtang. I like snakes and rats.

weeeeeeellllll.....

if i was you... i would....

email the people you named, ask them the same question, and then be really happy when they say yes!!

seeing as those people are the only ones that would be able to definitively answer that question, i would proceed in that direction.

best of luck!

bc

Maybe in another 20 years.

From what I understand they can go 30 years easy. There aren't that many breeders older then 10 in captivity. In the mean time they can keep using them to make pastels and the like. Interesting question, but with the big show coming up you might not get a quick answer.