Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have an 07 spider male as of tonight he weights 261 grams with a couple mice in his belly. does anyone think it is possible for me to get him up to breeding size by this october p.s. he eats like a champ.(2 sometimes 3 mice a week)

No. They quite simply don't grow that fast. A 600 (or whatever) gram increase in two months? Meh.
Even if he got big enough, he probably wouldn't become sexually mature before he was a year old. If I remember right, it's usually at least 18 months.

Just let im grow at his own pace and plan on using him next year.

~jenny
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"The python has, and I fib no fibs,
318 pairs of ribs.
In stating this I place reliance
On a seance with one who died for science
This figure is sworn to and attested,
He counted them while being digested."
~Ogden Nash

jenny.thegreenes.org

"If you're happy and you know it,
Bomb Iraq!
If you cannot find Osama,
Bomb Iraq!
If the terrorists are frisky,
Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea is too risky,
Bomb Iraq!

have you read the ball breeding sheet on constrictors.com they say they breed their male balls as early as six months of age is this bs or a rare possibility and i guess my main question now is would it be possible to get him to 500 grams in two months

You cannot double a snakes size in two months and do it in a healthy manner.
Weight is not the key factor in breeding anyway.

I would get a secong opinion on the age of 6 months. I know what I have done in the past, but I know you would enjoy reading the info yourself. You just want to make sure you are doing the right thing. You also have to take into consideration the size of the female you plan to breed him with. If she is too big he will be intimidated and not do a thing.
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Brian Oakley
Phoenix, Arizona
BrianOakley@qwest.net

I'm sure some males reach maturity at 6 months but don't necessarily expect it for yours. Check out Brian Oakley's response, it was very good.

Don't forget that breeding puts stress on the snake(s) involved. He'll go off feed if you try and breed him this year, and he won't gain weight like he would have if you just kept him on the bench to grow up like he should.

Just be patient for a little while longer.

~jenny
-----
"The python has, and I fib no fibs,
318 pairs of ribs.
In stating this I place reliance
On a seance with one who died for science
This figure is sworn to and attested,
He counted them while being digested."
~Ogden Nash

jenny.thegreenes.org

"If you're happy and you know it,
Bomb Iraq!
If you cannot find Osama,
Bomb Iraq!
If the terrorists are frisky,
Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea is too risky,
Bomb Iraq!

not to be rude or anything but have either of you two bred balls and how many times, not that I disagree with your opinions. I would just like to weigh them on your experience levels thank you

I have never bred balls. I have bred MANY Kings, Milks, Corns, and English Mastiffs. I have only recently started balls, but it is more for the collecting than the breeding. I do not have the time that is required to give them propper attention. My job takes much of my time and I have a 3 month old daughter on top of my wife and 15 year old son. I would rather, at this point, focus on them. Anyting could happen though.
That is why I stated that I would read up on it some more. All snakes might be much the same as far as sexual maturity, but I would read up on it to make sure.
I will stand by the fact that size has nothing to do with the ability to breed. It is all about age in every animal, including humans. Any age can 'do the deed', but it takes viable sperm in your case to successfully breed your ball......that is age.
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Brian Oakley
Phoenix, Arizona
BrianOakley@qwest.net

I have had at least one ball at any time over the last 18 years. So as far as husbandry, I think I have a good handle on that.
I was nver into breeding them, just loved the animal itself.
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Brian Oakley
Phoenix, Arizona
BrianOakley@qwest.net

Like Brian, I've kept balls for a while (15 years) and just started breeding last year. His advice is very sound - when in doubt, do more research with reputable sources. What makes you think you'll find someone more credible here than you would if you just went to the library or bought the NERD husbandry book?

12 year old humans can theoretically procreate, but is it a good idea? No, for more than the moral reasons - a 12 year olds body isn't mature enough to handle it. Same kind of thing happens to any animal, including your snakes. Just because someone does it doesn't make it a safe or reasonable practice.

Enjoy your snakes!

~jenny
-----
"The python has, and I fib no fibs,
318 pairs of ribs.
In stating this I place reliance
On a seance with one who died for science
This figure is sworn to and attested,
He counted them while being digested."
~Ogden Nash

jenny.thegreenes.org

"If you're happy and you know it,
Bomb Iraq!
If you cannot find Osama,
Bomb Iraq!
If the terrorists are frisky,
Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea is too risky,
Bomb Iraq!

To answer your question, Yes it is very possible. I have successfully bred multiple males at 500 grams and at six months of age. But do I like them to be bigger, Of course I do. In your situation keep feeding your male every 3-4 days. Do not cool him down until he reaches 650 grams. This will probably be around mid November. You can easily put on a 150-175 grams a month on a good feeding animal. Keep him in a nice warm rack until he reaches the 650 gram mark. Because there is a chance he will go off food when you start cooling him down , he will then actually weigh about 560 grams empty. Spiders are one my best feeding morphs and they tend to breed very young for me. You can start your breeding season in Oct. like you want to. Granted you have another rack to keep him in that is not being cooled. Just remember these are living animals and just because one animal breeds at a young age does not necessarily mean yours will but it never hurts to try. Also I like to introduce a young male to a smaller 1500 gram female to see what he does before putting him with some of the big girls. Please feel free to post any other questions you might have that I might have not covered. Paul at Steel City Exotics

In order for a animal of ANy kind to breed, it has to reach sexual maturity. This is an age, NOT a size or a weight.
You can have a 1000gram male, but only be 3 months old, and it will not breed a single female no matter how many times you get it to try.
It is all in age!!!

Now, to answer your question, I would do some reading on sexual maturity. I know this has been spoke of time and time again on this forum as well as just about every other one on Kingsnake. I would advise this to anyone looking to breed an animal, no matter the type. I did the same with all the snakes I bred as well as my female English Mastiff. One must be educated in the area in which they are practicing.....especially when a life is involved. I know you want the best for him.

Best of luck with the little guy!
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Brian Oakley
Phoenix, Arizona
BrianOakley@qwest.net

Not trying to disagree, nor have I personally done it but, I have read on this forum and others that they have successfully breed and produce eggs with males that have beens as low as 350 grams. That is what I have read . I think his question kind of got jumped on here, could it be done ? Possibly . Is it the healthiest thing for your snake? Probably not. It is just a baby and really con not afford to go off feed, maybe in stead let it continue eating and see what it weighs by the middle of winter. Have a late season. No harm in waiting a bit and letting it bulk up some.

I believe these males were simply bad feeders and were still at least a year old though.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

YES!
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http://www.jasballpythons.com./

Jas I was thinking that you should answer on this one. I know I have read some numbers that you have had males breed at.

2 Healthy clutches from a 5 month 250g male pastel.
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http://www.jasballpythons.com./

so how would you make this happen. what should I concentrate on doing to make him hit 500 grams.

500 grams is not the magic number. Just keep feeding on a regular bases. I would not power feed. And in maybe december give him a try. Maybe jas will tell you more.

Best of luck to you.

What exactly is considered power feeding? I have an 06 spider male that I also want to try breeding this winter. He's a Sept 06 hatch at 360 gm. I think he'll make it to 500 gm by Oct/Nov no problem. He's been gaining about 40-50 gm/month on a weekly feeding schedule but he's long and thin; not getting "plump" like my other 06's, so I moved to every 4-5 days. That's not too much right? Power-feeding would be even less than that right? Like every other day?

Just keep doing what you are doing. DONT try an over feed him. He will breed when HE is ready, Not when someone tells you he is ready..
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http://www.jasballpythons.com./

well thank you all and i think I will just keep on a roll with the little guy and don't worry power feeding is not in my plans.

Have a clutch as we speak from 550g male to a huge female 6 fertile eggs weighing 90 grams average. Is it possible ? Yes Is it a good idea ? Probably not! If the male goes off feed which they usually do he could be in poor condition after seasons over.
This season I will be using at least yearling males with a weight at least 750G .

Jas is correct and I dont see what the big deal is?

Snakes are genetically designed to do these two things: Eat and Procreate...

If the snake is 300-400 grams and you stick him in with your feamle a half dozen times over a 5 month period and he copulates 5 -6 times and the results are healthy, fertile egss, I dont see the harm?

I wouldnt recommend running him through a harem of 6 girls non-stop..

Just my opinion.

If he wants to breed he will. Some will be timid when they are little and they wont breed for you. I had a 380 gram male give me a clutch of fertile eggs this past season. Mom, dad and babies are doing great.

Give him plenty of breaks and do not breed him like he is Ron Jeremy and you will be OK and get some baby spiders out of it too.

~Alan

after they shed....feed them once then try and breed them????

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some do some don't at 7 months or so.....
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.....too many BIG girls.........

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