Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi
How much should a male bp weigh before he is able to breed
and is there any way to check if he is producing sperm
Thanx in advance
Tom

1 of my males produced 2 clutches at 500 grams last year.

I beleive RDR recommends 600 or 650. I use 600 - 650 as a minimum. I check for sperm plugs by gently simulating popping. The plugs normally come out if they are present.

That being said, just because the male has the weight does not mean he has the rest. My male albino coward in the corner of the cage his first year - the little panzy!! He finally produced the second year having achieved a weight of around 800 grams.
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Jay A. Martin

>>I beleive RDR recommends 600 or 650. I use 600 - 650 as a minimum. I check for sperm plugs by gently simulating popping. The plugs normally come out if they are present.
>>
>>That being said, just because the male has the weight does not mean he has the rest. My male albino coward in the corner of the cage his first year - the little panzy!! He finally produced the second year having achieved a weight of around 800 grams.
>>-----
>>Jay A. Martin

congrats on the fact that he finally produced the second year around!

My male is already 860 grams. However, my biggest female is only 425 grams. So, the way I look at it, I have at least another year to two years to go before I see any breeding. This is fine. In the mean time, I am just going to love my babies and let them come up to breeding age in due time.

I am sure that by the time my females hit breeding weight, my males will have been way safely over the minimal weight.

Congrats again on the fact that your albinee produced!
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Longtang. I like snakes and rats.

I believe balls are like humans. Does not matter weight nor age of a child nor python. Is the child or python sexually mature?Age nor weight means sexual maturity- just gives us averages. Simple? Think about it!
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RicK Denmon

Ball Boutique,Inc.

Thax for all the answers
He is about 450 now do you think he will be making hets this year
Tom

It can change from snake to snake. Some are producing sperm plugs very soon and some take longer. My male is almost 2 years old and still isn't producing. But he had a bad first year by the previous owner and whe I got him he was only 288 grams and also got ill. But now he's growing very well (865 grams) so I think he will start producing fast.
Here's some info on checking on sperm plugs. It's from "Ball Python Breeding" by Mark Seward and The Sutherlands.

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1.1 Python regius (Monty Python & Cheetah)
1.1 Gerrhosaurus major (Falkor & Gizmo)
0.0.3 Cordylus tropidosternum (Rocco, Senna & Zoë)

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