Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im looking at buying a pair of Hoggs and they are around 11 years old - at what age are they less productive - they are beutifull snakes and twice proven with healthy clutches - not sure when last clutch was - any advise would be appritated as I dont want to but them and be dissapointed next season - Ive done that too many times already!!!!

Cheers

Sam

Hi Sam,
Yes snakes can be too old too breed but at 11 years old they are in their prime breeding age, they should be able to breed well into their 20's. Also if you are getting 11 year old Hogg Island Boas, then your Boas should be from the early 90's and have a good chance of being 100% Hoggies, Not saying that some breeders are knowingly selling Hoggs that are 100%, but the further down the import line you go the more chance of inter locality breeding you get.
I think they should be just fine, as long as they are healthy.
Good luck with them!
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

I do know of several females that age which produced good litters and many males older still that breed and father litters. But Boas can and do reach an age where they no longer reproduce or do so much less frequently. What age is that? .. it is not certain, but at over age 10 females especially may be well past their peak years. For sure there are many factors involved such as how they have been kept, genetics and many things we can only guess at.

If this pair is a dozen years of age and has produced only two viable litters it would be helpful to know how many times the results were slugs and how many attempts were made to breed them in that period, starting at about age 3-1/2 years. Also look for things such as retained ova or evidence of heavy feeding (lumps, bumps and deep creases down the sides), that also predisposes many Boa to cease making babies.

Hope that helps..
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Gus
A. Rentfro
RioBravoReptiles.com
www.riobravoreptiles.com

"Quality is not an accident. Perfectly healthy animals are a minimum requirement.. everything else is just salesmanship" gus

I have heard of a rubber boa producing healthy offspring at the age of about 59 years old.(www.rubberboas.com) Although much different that Columbians etc... still something to keep in mind. I believe alot has to do with the way they have been raised. Just food for thought.
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Chris
Contact
Captive Bred Herps

0.0.2 Gila Monsters
1.2 KSB "Normal"
1.2 KSB "Albino Het/snow"
1.1 KSB "Anery"
2.2 Rubber boas
3.3 Solomon Island G. Boa
1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0 Pacman Frog

Although boas can breed well into their 20's many boas will reach their productive peak well before then and it would worry me that this pair has only produced two clutches and i would ask some serious questions about the breeding past of these animals. Sometimes it is better to past on a great deal to get a sure thing.. I would think at 11 years you run the risk of the female being breed out. Just ask some more questions and make sure the pair is exactly what they say they are. Ask about the number of seasons which the pair has breed and produced nothing, or all slugs... and ask when the last clutch of healthy babies was.. I would be careful but asertive!

Good Luck!

Sincerely,
Rose
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www.srsnakes.com