Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi guys
What is the youngest age you have bred a male blood? I have 2009 female that is ready and a 2011 male both albinos. What size, age and weight maybe a gram size can help if any of you have that info.

Thanks
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Richard Ceniceros

Richard,
With healthy pythons, I believe age to be more critical than size when it comes to sexual maturity. I have never seen a male brongersmai successfully breed at less than three years of age. Females usually require another year. Just my observations, and others may have had different experiences.

Kelly

I breed boa constrictor and females are a minimum of 3 years old but males can breed as young as 18 months.

I know bloods are not ball pythons but i know the males can breed as little as 500 grams or so and as young as 9 months to a year.

Any seasoned Blood pythons breeders use young males?

Pic is of my 2009 Albino Female, she is about 4'ft or so now.

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Richard Ceniceros

Richard,
I would definitely agree with your analysis with regards to the early maturity in B.c. sp and ball pythons. However, blood pythons inherently do not mature as fast as many other boid species. I would be curious to see if others have had males younger than three years of age successfully reproduce, as I know I haven't.

Kelly

Anyone else??
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Richard Ceniceros

I agree with Kelly. Young bloods may breed but fertility and viability is low. My rule is three years for males and four for females.
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Just as i suspected 18 month old males can be bred.

Thanks for the private emails that were sent to me.

Thanks again guys.
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Richard Ceniceros

Strictly my thoughts on the subject, but to get a male brongersmai up to reproductive maturity in 18 months would require some serious "power feeding". While I understand the monetary issues involved, I feel we have a responsibility to the welfare of the animal and not stress their physiology to these extremes. It is definitely not a healthy situation for them to be pushed that hard, and is a growth rate of at least twice what this species would express in its natural environment. Just my opinion on the topic.

Kelly

Great point Kelly... I have never bred Bloods but have produced many litters of boa constrictor 45 plus to be exact.

With weekly feedings or even 7-10 days you can get a boa constrictor male to breeding maturity at about 18 months, im sure with bloods you can do this as well. Obviously in the 'wild' they dont get fed every 7-10 but i dont think this to be power feeding.

Ask around im sure male blood pythons breed earlier than you think?
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Richard Ceniceros

Richard,
I don't doubt that by power feeding male blood pythons you can expedite the maturation process in this species. However, if they are sexually mature in less than two and a half years, this is a shorter period than would ever occur under natural conditions and may not be in the best interest of the animals health.

Kelly