First Time Breeding....

[Barracuda_41]

:-\ Ok i was just wondering, since i will be breeding Delilah for the first time and this is my first time doing so, by any chance does anyone know or estamated guess how many babies is she capable of having in her first litter if there not slugs?? Shes 8ft now and by the time i breed her in january im guessing she will be close to 9ft at the rate shes growing.. As far as her age goes i belive shes between 4 and 5 yrs old not sure on that.. Shes gona be bred to a male thats over 7ft..

[sclark]

Re:First Time Breeding....

Hey Tracey,

There are so many variables involvolved and most can not be answered. Ever snake is different. If your Delilah is 5 years or older, the chance for her to have a larger litter with less slugs is better then it would be for a younger boa. Make sure you throw her a few guiena pigs before she mates. The extra fat on her will give her a safer breeding period and should reduce the amount of slugs.. Another consideration to think about when you breed her is to make sure the temps while she is gravid are up a couple of degrees and maintain those temps exact through out her whole pregnacy. She gonna be with you while she is gravid?

Steve

[ClayEnglish]

Re:First Time Breeding....

Females bred for the first time will average 20 babies. Sometimes larger females can have more, strictly based on thier size. But you should expect around 20 babies if all goes well.

Also try to keep the pairings compatibly sized. You don't really want the male to be the same size or larger than the female. Generally causes too much stress on the female because the male can be pretty rough with the females.

[sclark]

Re:First Time Breeding....

Now I haven't breed boas even close to the amount Clay has. But honestly I haven't had those results with the six sets I have bred. I have had first time girls that were all good size give anywhere from 14-37 on their first litter. It all seemed to me based on my notes that the older first timers gave better size clutches with less slugs.. Clay do you feel age has any relivence on the clutch size and how many slugs? Or was my results odd?

Steve

[ClayEnglish]

Re:First Time Breeding....

Yes Steve, I was talking about first time moms.

Also your results are right on what I mentioned. I said averaged 20 baqbies.

So lets say your results are based on (and I am just throwing out randomly picked numbers based on your range) are 37, 30, 25, 25, 18, 14 = 129

Divided by 6 (your breedings) = 24.8

So given a wide range (guesses) from 14 to 37, I think shows that the average is 20 or so.

Again huge females will tend to have more. Smaller, 6 foot first time moms may have 14 to 16. 37 to 40 would be abnormal for a first time mom, regardless of size.


So, unless I am missing something Steve, your numbers are right there with me, give or take a couple ;D

[sclark]

Re:First Time Breeding....

LOL Clay,

sure throw math at me..LOL.. Gess I should have did it that way..LOL.. I never looked at new moms in a group and did it that way.. Not a bad average I guess..LOL

Now the main question is, do you think that say a 4 year old boa is less likly to produce the same size cluth of say a 6 year old mom. Assuming they are both the same size and girth. I was real curious. I am not sure if I came up with that idea or Iwas told sometime about the age issue. I am curious about that. I know you have alot more boa breeding experience then I do, so I figure you may have some actual experience with that. Like I said I have not bred many boas, about six sets a few times each. Most were not even mine. Just ones I care for at someones shop.

Steve

[ClayEnglish]

Re:First Time Breeding....

I remember one of my conversations with Jeff Ronne, and I am pretty sure he said ALL first time moms will average around 20, regardless of age.

I have noticed as with many many animals that first litters are relatively small. And that they generally increase through prime, and then get smaller as they age.

I know rats, mice, gerbils, rabbits all follow this scenario. But boas being reptiles are definately different, but I do still see this progression and have talked to several who also have mentioned this.

[Barracuda_41]

Re:First Time Breeding....

8) Thank you tons Steve and Clay that helps me alot and now i know what i should be somewhat expecting... Delilah is one heavey girl and by no means thin, shes very girthy.. And yes steve she will be here with me while shes gravid and for the birth and everything... Shes my pride and joy and my big mama and i wouldnt have it any other way, i just wish i knew exactly how old she is.. :-\

[sclark]

Re:First Time Breeding....

Hey Tracey,

Hope Delilah has a hugh happy littler.. I bet the hardest part for you is gonna be hands off for the time she is gravid. That is always my hardest part. I always hold my snakes a few times a week and having to leave the snakes alone for that many months always drives me nuts..

Keep us posted...

Steve

[Barracuda_41]

Re:First Time Breeding....

8)NP Steve, shes set for a January breeding, the male is really nice more a silver color with more color to the tail, hes not a small skinny male nither, hes nice size and got good weight on him, nothing like a females weight though..LOL!!! Acording to the guy thats gona let me use him he bred him to a older female he got in that was on her second litter and she put out 38 babies. It dont matter to me really how many she puts out as long as its enough for the guy thats letting me use his male he wants 3 babies for using his male.. i just hope all babies are gona be healthy and doing good when she has them.. Id like to see a few nice babies like my Delilah.. ;D

[Red]

Re:First Time Breeding....

Do you have a pic of the male or just a discription... would lov' to see who is gonna' breed that bute you have there....
Eric aka....Red

[sclark]

Re:First Time Breeding....

Silver color mixed in with your girl should be a nice mix..)

Steve

[Barracuda_41]

Re:First Time Breeding....

:-[ I dont have any pics of him but i sure will have a cam by the time she gets bred... sorry red wish i did have pics of him hes really nice... I like his color to me its silver but to everyone else its just grayish.. :-\

[eViL_KaRoT]

Re:First Time Breeding....

I am thinking about breeding my Ursula sometime too. I was wondering, what's the minimum a male needs to be before breeding is suggested to start. The only male we think we have is Shaft, who as you all saw in the pix is also a very silver color. But I feel he is too small to start breeding to her. Ursula is about 7ft and very girthy (I don't know if you could see it in her pic or not) and Shaft is only about 4-4.5ft and not very girthy at all about 2-3 fingers wide. Would he be too small to even think about it. Also, they are all soon going to be housed together. How do you prevent them from breeding, other than separating them. Or do they just do it when they are in the mood?

[Red]

Re:First Time Breeding....

That is actuly a good size five foot males are jeffs fav. Clay use's them that size too.. they say that the smaller males don't intemadate the females... just snuggle up and make babies... I would try what is the worst that can happen... I mean the female is defently big enuf... Just make sure you put some weight on her and try... I would at aleast...
Eric aka....Red