Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have 4 pairs together. Cycled temps and stop feeding. All girls are over 1400 grams, boys over 600. I stoppped feeding them a month and a half ago. If you have any advice/tips i would more than appreciate it as this is my first season. Thanks!!

Keep feeding them if they willingly eat. You're never supposed to intentionally starve them!

It may be that they are not old enough, or heavy enough. 1600 grams was the usual average first-year weight, and I belieeeeve 800 grams was the male minimum. I may be wrong on this, and there are definately exceptions...but your snakes may not fall into the exception category.

Keep feeding them, keep their husbandry perfect, and when they feel like it, they will breed.

~jenny
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"Polysyllabism in no way insures that what you're saying is actually worth being heard." - Blake (an e-friend of mine)

"I have never made but one prayer to god, a very short one: "O lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And he granted it." - Voltaire

"Rule of thumb" I have always heard is 1500g 3rd winter for females and 800g 2nd winter for males. Just may not be ready. At the weights you gave they would definately be the exception. It's not a race....feed them and if need be wait to breed them next year. May be able to get them ready for a late clutch this year but don't push it.
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its 1000 grams 3rd winter female and for male 650 and 1.5 years old however older and larger is always better that was always the minimum however now days things are different

Both Kevin's McCurley's book and that of the Barker's say the minimum is 1000 gms for females. I wouldn't try it myself, but a friend bred several in that range last year and got 3-6 eggs out of each....Also, some on this forum have mentioned successfully breeding males at less than 400 gms.
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Brad Chambers

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

If the male produces sprem he can breed its up to him if he will. I have seen them breed at 350 grams and some not until much larger.
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i'm not over weight i'm under tall

WOW to each his own...My lightest breeder female this year is 1375g and I was really questioning waiting with her. One down fall about breeding that light will be every other year breeding. At 1000g she will never lay a clutch and be back up to weight to breed the next season, she would probally have to skip a year.
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http://www.joecompelreptiles.com/ball_bits/breeding_size/index.asp

Take a look at this, you may find it interesting. Click link below and it should redirect you.
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Well, from reading his account at the above link, what strikes me initially is that he's never tried it any other way ...

When it comes to reliability of info, I'd go with Satan and Dave & Tracy-particularly since it parallels my own experience. Not that I am advocating starting at 1000 gms-nor do I think they are. But it cAN be done safely, with care.
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Brad Chambers

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

To Quote Satan himself:

bps4ever: What do you find the ideal weight to be for a female BP to breed?

KevNERD: 1200 grams or bettter..

bps4ever: thx alot

KevNERD: I have killed a few females that were just too small...I have made plenty of mistakes..I am impatient!

KevNERD: Too small...hard to expell a large egg...can equal egg bound or sudden death!
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Tosha
JET Pythons

My point is NOT that it is "safe" to breed a 1000 gram female-but the entire question is situational. This year, I have a female that weighs about 1550 gms, but is still very slender after last year's clutch. I won't be putting her with a male. On the other hand, I have a very chunky 1300 gm female that has already hooked up several times with a pastel male. I guarantee you this girl will produce a healthy clutch of at least 5 or 6 eggs! I'll post it when she drops.

I personally have never had occasion to breed a female under 1200 gms, but I could IMAGINE a situation where that could happen. I don't believe it's possible to state a concrete minimum weight.
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Brad Chambers

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

you guys are awesome. Thanks for all the advice. I will keep feeding and let you know any updates!!!

Just another link that states 1200g bare minimum.
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Still another says 1500g period. Can go 2nd winter but still must be 15oog. All says that breeding too early can be dangerous for males and females.
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