Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My pair bred for the first time last year and produced 23 baby's and 1 slug on June 1st. The female has gained all her weight back minus 4 ounces. Would it be in her best interest to skip a year, wait to cool them a 2-3 more months, or would be okay to breed again if I start cooling in another 4 to 5 weeks? The weight of the female is 4# 9 oz.
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer

Sunshine,
I'm guessing your female is well established and if she threw 23 babies she must be of decent size. If she's gained most of her weight back I don't think cycling her would hurt. If she's not up to it she probably would'nt conceive. My female was 3 when she bred and of good size but not huge; it took alot out of her. I was'nt weighing her but I thought she'd put back most of her weight. Since I don't separate them and I think cycling them is healthy anyway (I give them their last meal in early November and start offering again in mid January), I cycled them the following winter but she did'nt conceive. This year she is huge (now I'm curious and want to weigh her) so we'll see.
Good luck,
Paul

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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer

Linda,
. I have spent a couple days thinking about your question. Many of my BRBs are growing old in captivity. I have great luck keeping BRBs healthy. I only very very rarely lose one. But, when I do lose one it is almost always related to breeding. They are more susceptible to respiratory problems when being cooled and when gravid. Some have problems delivering babies. Slugs seem especially prone to sticking in the oviducts. If a baby dies in the oviduct without being delivered or a slug sticks in the oviduct there is a high likelihood that the snake will develop an infection. I had several BRBs that produced year after year for me. My best producer laid her first litter when she was three and delivered good litters for five out of six years. She died at age 8 after delivering a litter with several slugs. I will breed them for two years in a row if they regain their weight AND seem to be strong and solid. I now do not try to breed them for three years in a row. If I wanted a BRB to live as long as possible I would never breed it. Breeding snakes is challenging and rewarding but it is not without risks.
Jeff

>>My pair bred for the first time last year and produced 23 baby's and 1 slug on June 1st. The female has gained all her weight back minus 4 ounces. Would it be in her best interest to skip a year, wait to cool them a 2-3 more months, or would be okay to breed again if I start cooling in another 4 to 5 weeks? The weight of the female is 4# 9 oz.
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>>"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer