Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi

Was just wondering at what age/size will Diamonds and BHPs successfully reproduce?

I've heard everything from as early as 18 months old to they have to be 7 years plus!!

All opinions welcome

Hello there.
I'd say a good safe age to start breeding BHP's is 3 to 4.
But, keep in mind there are many factors involved.

Some keepers have been able to push their animals to breed in 2 years but, I'd be very wary of doing that with BHPs.
I know a few keepers now that have bred early like this....had a good run for 2, 3 or 4 years....and now their BHPs don't breed.

So, is it better to push them and get a head start on breeding.....only to have them "burn out" and produce only a few years....or do you raise the animal moderately and have a full good 10 to 15 year run... breeding the animals?

Push a BHP to breeding too fast......and you'll have fat, over weight snakes..... that will only breed for a few years.
Seen it.... over and over and over again.

Feed them moderate, small meals often....and take your time.
Also, remember, BHPs don't eat a large diet of rodents in the wild....in fact, less than 5%.
It doesn't help the fact that.... we're feeding them a 100% diet of fats and proteins in these rodents.... they don't eat.
I've know guys who have killed adult BHPs by feeding them large rats.
Be careful!!!!

My 6 and 8 foot BHPs have only ever gotten small rats.....they may get 2 or 3 but, they burn through small rodents much better than large ones.
Their digestive systems are not made to eat a full diet of fat filled rats.

Cheers,
D.

I agree, Derek. Starting too early takes growth away and converts it to egg-laying. Waiting an extra year or two to get some extra length on the animal will produce bigger clutch sizes in the long run.

Excessively fat animals do not reproduce as well. Just like with people, lol