Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As for the males....I've bred them at 20 to 24 inches well under 300 grams (2 year olds) with no problems.....But you must be careful and watch that a smaller male do not become a meal for the larger female...then you end up with one fat female.....

For females I always went by a generic rule of 30 inches and 300 grams minimum for female mexicana to breed (Usually around their 3rd year).

I would like to know what everybody's criteria is for a female mexicana to breed.
Thanks-
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

John,

Notes from my females are as follows...

TF03-071 (Emma): 3+ years and 30 plus inches.
03/10/08 = 269 grams
05/20/08 = 423 grams
06/07/08 = 332 grams (laid 7 eggs - all infertile)
08/09/08 = 359 grams

TF03-072 (Butterscotch): 3+ years and 30 plus inches.
03/10/08 = 282 grams
05/20/08 = 417 grams
05/29/08 = 266 grams (laid 16 eggs)
08/06/08 = 233 grams

AF03-151 (Juno Road Female): 3+ years and 30 plus inches.
04/22/08 = 380 grams
05/20/08 = 459 grams
06/11/08 = 332 grams (laid 14 eggs)
08/09/08 = 302 grams

AF03-153 (Juno Road Female): 3+ years and about 24 inches.
03/10/08 = 224 grams
05/20/08 = 281 grams
06/21/08 = 187 grams (laid 10 eggs - HUGE)
08/09/08 = 203 grams

It took both of the two girls a while to snap back from those large egg clutches as I was not feeding them as much as I was when they were gravid. The other two girls began to regain weight soon thereafter. I haven't weighed them yet to see how they are doing (normally about every 2 months) but I suspect that they've got their weight back as everybody seems to be ravenous these days.

Their maintenance diet (feeding regimen) is every 7 days but I was offering the girls food items every 3-4 days when they were gravid if they wanted it...They almost always did with gusto!

Just from my limited data, I'd say the key was 3+ years as AF03-153 might be 24 inches in length...The other three girls are in the 33-36 inch range...

Just my opninion...

Later,
Jim.

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CSRAJim

>>Just my opninion...

Jim,
Now that's the kinda data I was interested in....
Thank you for sharing all the info...
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

John,

Thanks...I'll have more data next year for comparison to form a more "informed" opinion over time..."Seeing" this data suggests why the females are generally smaller than the males as all of them took a step "backward" as a result of being gravid...Yes, I'm sure there are exceptions but that is my "observation" at this point in time...

This year it appears as though developing the eggs appeared to have a different effect on 50% of the girls...Two recovered more quickly (small clutches) than the other two (large clutches)...I'll need more notes though...

Glad I could offer something that you could use...

Later man,
Jim.
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CSRAJim

>>Thanks...I'll have more data next year for comparison to form a more "informed" opinion over time..."Seeing" this data suggests why the females are generally smaller than the males as all of them took a step "backward" as a result of being gravid...Yes, I'm sure there are exceptions but that is my "observation" at this point in time...

Jim...Females could certainly be smaller than comparable aged males, but I have seen many 'huge' female thayeri....I was nervous to put males in with some of them.....

And....Fatten up your females for the winter, let them clear their stomachs then weigh and measure your females prior to brumation (that is if you drop temps and actually brumate) and again after brumation...You will be amazed that some will actually grow in length and lose nearly no weight at all. I've even brumated stubborn feeder hatchlings for 8 weeks and seen some growth...
Just a few things to ponder.....Never an argument Jim....
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

John,

Thanks man and I agree with you...Large females are out there for sure...My comment was just a general observation...No argument from me...

The 01/12/08 weight is their "Pre-Brumination" (voided gut) weight and the 03/10/08 weight is their "Post-Brumination" weight...

TF03-071
01/12/08 = 285 grams
03/10/08 = 269 grams

TF03-072
01/12/08 = 283 grams
03/10/08 = 282 grams

AF03-151
01/12/08 = 319 grams
03/10/08 = 294 grams

AF03-153
01/12/08 = 225 grams
03/10/08 = 224 grams

It's just data for historical records...Also, weighing them helps me track trends over time and provides me with information regarding potential health issues; etc...In other words, this information gives me a snapshot of how they are doing for historical comparison over their lifetime...

Besides, as I get older...I remember less and less so "notes" help me keep track of "stuff"...HA! HA! Also, you never know when your "Murphy" (as in Murphy's Law) will drop in on your computer and "crash" your hard drive just for fun (Not really)...So "notes" cover that contingency as well...

Later,
Jim.
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CSRAJim