Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I was wondering what size doe's a female cal. king have to be to breed because I caught a wild eastern milk female that was gravid and she was 30 inches long and had 8 eggs that wore 1 1/2 inches long each (she layed her eggs on the 12th), I just got her weight and it was 90gs and my cal. king is 28-29 inches long and weights 70gs do you think my cal. king could breed this season since she is almost the same size and weight?. Thanks Scott

Scott,

This question is asked all the time so if you want to see more advice on this just scroll down and check the search function.

Getula kingsnakes, Cali's included should be about 36" and A LOT more than 70 grams in order to breed. Basically wait for her to be around 40" with good body weight.
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Matt from Minnesota

Thanks matt. do you think she could breed in 2007?. Thanks Scott

Feed her as much as she will eat and she may be ready to breed by spring '06! I think she could put on the right size. As far as Bluerosy's comments on breeding such small females, even if they do lay a couple eggs - what's the point? That is stressing a young snake and the development of its eggs is only going to stunt its growth even further! If I were you I would not brumate her this winter, but instead continue to feed, and you'll probably have a 4 foot king with a large clutch in '07.

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Matt from Minnesota

Thanks. Thats one big california kingsnake

There was just a thread on this subject where a poster (FR) bred a cal king at around that size. I think if the snake breeds and produces viable eggs then she was big enough.

Kinda late in the year to start thinking about it though. I have some small snakes from last year (25" floridana and 22" cal king)that are ovulating and I just threw in some males.

Thanks