Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What are some ages of your oldest breeders? This is a two part question, I have a 7 year old JCP in general how old is to old to breed? I have read that until they die they can breed it would be very interesting to me if my 15 year old Red tail boa was able to breed. I am however not going to breed him as one I don’t know the sex and two he has been my pet for all of these years and it would kill me if breeding stressed him to the point of death.
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Jason A.
"Long time Herper, first year Breeder `07."

The male Green Anaconda that Kelly Haller and I use for breeding just finished breeding last month. He has produced young every other year starting in 2001 and things look very good for this year. He is a captive born snake and this December will be 17 years old and hope for many productive years. Jud McClanahan

>>What are some ages of your oldest breeders?

I have a female Ball that is a 'legit' 25 years old (minimum 25, maybe more as she was an imported adult all those years back) and she still can produce perfect high egg count clutches. I only put her in breeding mode about every three or four years.

>>This is a two part question, I have a 7 year old JCP in general how old is to old to breed? I have read that until they die they can breed it would be very interesting to me if my 15 year old Red tail boa was able to breed.

Not sure how old is too old, but I think if the strength and conditioning were 'good' they (males or females) could reproduce until near the end of a 'natural' life cycle.

Matt

I have seen lots of old snakes breed. I just bred a 15 year old male king. In my experience males can breed until very near the end of their lives. Only if a male seems infirm or like hes not putting weight on will I not let him breed. I mean come on, its got to be the highlight of his year... haha... keeps people feeling young...

Females are a somewhat different story. But I think that the "breeding females into the ground" thing is somewhat exaggerated by something else and far more common... poor husbandry. In my experience a healthy well maintained female will simply stop cycling on her own and she may continue to live many years after that.

I have bred a 15 year old pair of boas before, both first time breeders. Got a small but perfect clutch of 12 neonates.

7 is not too old, your snake is still in her prime.

the oldest that we currently have is at least a 10 years old bp and more than likely around 12-15. The person that we bought her from had her for 7 years as an adult and bred her accidentally each year with pics to prove. We have had her for 3 years and she has produced the last 2 years and is gravid again this year. Each year she has produced at least 7 eggs and averages 9. She eats great, breeds great, and never throws a bad egg. One can't ask for a better breeder than she is.

On a side note, Chris and Sheila McQuade have a chondro female that is at least 27 years old and layed a clutch 2 years ago of all good eggs.
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Josh & Krysty Hutto
J&K Reptiles

Various Ball Pythons:::

1.0 striped vanilla
1.0 spider
1.2 Citrus Ghost and hets
1.2 Albino and hets
2.3 het Pied
0.6 50% poss het pied
1.1 Pastel (male has additional gene going on with him)
a bunch of normal female breeders
a bunch of normal female holdbacks and several rescued normal males

0.1 columbian boa, she's a feeding monster, controls my
over production of rats, lol
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa, another rat eating monster
1.1 corns

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

reticulated python owned by Charles Juiliano. Oldest male was 14 years old reticulatus also. I am sure males can breed much older than this. I also bred a female Burmese that was 21 years old in 1996. Male was 10 years old. I had to get rid of her when I got divorced in 1997/1998. I have no idea what happened to her, last time I heard she was at a zoological institution somewhere up north. Very sad time for me. the males younger ages had nothing to do with male pythons lacking fertility, it just happened to be how old they where. There was No difference in how prolific they where at those slightly older then the norm. I would imagine most pythons can breed well into old age.
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research