Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am curious what those of you here aim for for size or age when breeding.
I have a pair of black rats I would have bred this year but for the female going AWOL just out of brumation and just now getting back into shape. She is heading to 4yo and monster....5 ft and 700 something grams. Haven't weighed her lately.

I also have some 02s(whitesided everglades and greenish, het albinos)...all now in the almost 200 gram range and eating me out of house and home. Will they be ready next season? What weight (assuming they are appropriate length and not lard tubs) would you look for?
TIA
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

but that'll usually do it. larger males can go in 18/20 months.........

I wait for the third year for my females and I'll try a male at 2 if I have a female for him. Then I decide if they are healthy and have weight. If the females loses weight or doesn't get her weight back after egg laying then I tend to pass on that breeding year. I don't like to power feed them up to weight after brumation. If they don't have the weight, I don't push it or risk it.

Terry Parks

over-weight females tend to get egg bound easier, so there's no point in pushing her to save a year but lose the snake......mr. parker, long time. how ya been? as always, DD

Thanks for adding that point DD. I've been pretty good. The really nice female Marcia Lincoln everglades you sent me is hopefully dropping eggs soon. Here's a pic of her a few months ago. The Texas ratsnake/Whiteoak gray rat is doing great also. Nice to see you spending some time on the rat snake forum DD.

Tery Parks

>>I wait for the third year for my females and I'll try a male at 2 if I have a female for him. Then I decide if they are healthy and have weight. If the females loses weight or doesn't get her weight back after egg laying then I tend to pass on that breeding year. I don't like to power feed them up to weight after brumation. If they don't have the weight, I don't push it or risk it.
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>>Terry Parks

I haven't, and don't want to push them. I, obviously, would love to breed them next year. This year, last week, the bulk of them were pushing 200 grams. I haven't done the length program on the picts. So, here's hoping they have a good growth year.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron