In this forum people have inquired as to how young a male BP can be and still sire offspring.
I obtained an early July 03 hatched male pastel from Mark Petros in late July 03 and fed him well. By early January 04 he was over 700 gm. I cooled him to the low 70's through early February. I paired him with a virgin 3 year old light-colored female weighing about 2000 gm. The male bred this female twice,
when he was about 7.5 months old (20+ hour mating), and when he was about 8.5 months old (10+ hour mating). In the one month interval between matings they were paired up several times with no interest shown by the male.
On 3 June 04 the female laid 2 normal-sized fertile eggs, one partially-slugged but fertile egg, and 3 slugs. In late July the 2 good eggs hatched, and I slit the partially-slugged egg. The 2 good eggs contained a female pastel and normal male, and the partially-slugged egg contained a premee pastel female which did not survive.
PICS are of the pastel female. She's a keeper!!
At the early breeding age this male MAY have been producing a high percentage of abnormal or partially-formed spermatozoa, so this might account for the 50% infertile clutch by the female.
Thanks for looking!
Scott J. Michaels DVM
