Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a female who is stuck at 1040 grams, she hasnt eaten in two months and is perfectly healthy. Should I pair her up this season, will she produce eggs at this weight thanks- Matt

How old is she? If she is an 07 I would not try it. If she is older you may be ok if she starts feeding again. Most of my females start eating like crazy for a few weeks after cooling starts, but it sounds like your female may have hit the 1000g wall. I have had some stop eating totally for six months at around that weight. She may give you a few good eggs or she may not. No one can tell you that for sure. I personally have never had a female that was under 1300g lay a succesful clutch but I know others who have.
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John Vandegrift

she is a 06. I will try scenting a mouse with a rat. And hope for the best thanks-Matt

i had an '06 female last year breed successfully at 1125g. she gained upto about 1450g and laid 4 eggs that i hatched this september. after laying if i remember correctly she weighed 1100g and now is 1750g. my only concern for you is that your female is off feed. that would be something i would definately keep working on. if she is usually a rat feeder i would try scenting a rat with mice and offer it to her and hope for the best! good luck......

C

>>i had an '06 female last year breed successfully at 1125g. she gained upto about 1450g and laid 4 eggs that i hatched this september. >>
>>C

Then wouldn't she be a 1450g female?
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John Vandegrift

the question was breeding weight, noy laying weight...

Too small. Wait until next year.
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www.strictlyballs.ca

Listen to Mykee. It's better to be safe than sorry.

She may breed and may do just fine.

However, you are raising the chances of having an egg bound female. If that happens either she will die or you will have to destroy the eggs to save her life (or both). Either way is a waste.

The other option that she will breed, lay a small clutch and then not breed or lay again for a long time.

Wait until next year. Most of my balls end up "hitting the 1000 gram wall". It seems that no matter the age, once they are roughly 1000 grams they go off feed... every time (at least in my case). It's frustrating, but it's also that time of year when she is likely to go on a fast. Don't stress it.

One good thing about a ball's first fast is that if they are not eating rats (and you want them to be) when the fast ends I seem to have more success switching these animals to rats at this time.

Thank you everybody for your input, I am going to wait until next year. I do not want to risk hurting her and her health. Thanks -Matt