Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am getting my cal kings ready to brumate. I have a male that I am wondering if he is big enough yet. He is a little bit smaller than my females and I know I'd have to keep a close eye on him to make sure he doesn't get eaten. How big does everyone let theirs get before breeding?
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Kevin Collison
Those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience-C.S. Lewis

Males will breed at 30"...
Most will wait until females are around 36" with a good bit of weight to breed them.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.kingpinreptiles.com

I have had males reproduce with no problems and viable eggs as young as nine months of age and not over 20 inches and females as small as the two foot area(23 to 26 inches) again with no problems and often double clutch.

That is normal for healthy snakes. Of course if you have dehydration problems, they must get larger with more mass to avoid becoming dehydrated.

In nature the first task of all individual snakes is to maintain hydration. In captivity its a constant problem, and most likely 99% of all captive snakes are in some stage of dehydration.

If your interested you can ask more about this, there is an easy way to test it. Cheers

...what is your test?
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Diego

SWCHR

Frank, I am real interested in learning all I can about hydration and how it applies to captive reptiles. Tell us please how to determine if I have a problem with it...as you indicate 90% of captives are not adequately hydrated?
Thank you, Vic H.