Would you Breed?

[cornsnakefreak]

Would any of you breed:

a yearling female cornsnake who is 214 grams and 36 inches long?

[reverendsterlin]

I just don't think even with winter feeding she would gain 85+grams, and that would be bare minimum for me.

[cornsnakefreak]

I don't know. She is my best feeder and I have never had any trouble getting her to eat. She eats whatever and whenever. She eats like clockwork. I read on a site that min breeding weight for a female corn would be 200 grams. Now, since she is pushing 220 grams and my min is about 250, I would think that she is ready. But I don't want to rush her and even killing her by breeding her. The reason I am asking others is because I have only bred adults. I have never raised babies up to breeding size. To me she looks small compared to my 4 year old who breed for the first time. I am going to wait and see more results before I make a final decision.

[Invictus]

Just because she has reached a breedable size does not mean she has reached reproductive maturity. Wait at least another year.

[marisa]

I really don't think you will kill her by breeding her this year (well most likely not but anything can happen), but I do think the snake would do better if left another year. Most likely it would be better for you too. Snakes smaller than her have had clutches but they are small. If you wait an extra year you will get a larger clutch almost for sure, AND you will know your snake is large enough, and will come through just fine most likely.

Marisa

[Classic]

If your corn was in the wild, and at that size...it would be breeding.

[eyespy]

How fast is she growing? It takes roughly 5-7 months for new bone cells to become fully calcified. If she's still in her fast growing stage she will have too many new bone cells and not enough calcium reserves to guarantee her health.

Make sure her growth has slowed and then wait at least 5 months and the strain of producing eggs will not be so hard on her.

[Dark_Angel_25]

CLASSIC: If she was in the wild, at her age, she probably wouldn't be that size because food is not always available as readily as it is in captivity, so she probably would not be breeding anyway

[Classic]

Dark_Angel_25: I agree that she MIGHT not be that size at that age in the wild. The thing is though, she is that size and it isn't only in captivity that food items are in abundance for a snake to grow this fast. If this snake was in the wild, it would be breeding if it has reached sexual maturity.

[BoidKeeper]

When in doubt, wait.
Trevor

[gonesnakee]

WAIT Put your animals best interests first. As far as the "in the wild" comments I'll state 1 main point 9/10 snakes (or more) don't make it in the wild as the enviroment etc. are far from perfect. In captivity we can stimulate what would be considered a perfect enviroment, so why would you not wait until things (size, age etc.) were in the perfect range. Why push the boundries & end up with an eggbound snake that will never breed again (or may die), when you could grow her up to be a big doubleclutcher every year. Save your animal the stress & wait. Most people who breed things at low weights/ages do so because they are self centered & greedy & care more about producing than they do about their animals. If its about your animals wait, or if you are in it for the money its still better to wait. IMHO Mark I.

[Classic]

We are having a discussion here. No need to elevate to arguement. We also have to look at the issue that there are not alot of real experts around here and the hobby being so new, there is still many things we are guessing or speculating about.
Many breeders will swear by their experiences and habits but they are not necessarily right.
Most people who breed things at low weights/ages do so because they are self centered & greedy & care more about producing than they do about their animals.
I think this is not totally accurate. There are alot of different reasons for breeding when your animal is borderline ready. There are alot of different varibles i.e. excitement, experimentation, curisoity. Don't get me wrong, i'm not an advocate of early breeding but you have to keep an open mind. That's why its called a hobby. You learn new things every day. Some people will breed early and hope for some fininicial gain and it may work or it might not. Am i an authurity to say that it is wrong or right, I think not.
cornsnakefreak: If you feel that your corn may be ready, cool her. Decide in the spring when she has been cooled. Her health then may warrant a wait until next year. You do what you feel is right for your animal with its well being being the first prioity. Good Luck.

[gonesnakee]

Good points Classic I should have used something like "a lot of people" or something instead of "most". You are 100% right in that alot of people are just "excited or anxious" because they are hobbists & they are the first pair of breeders or a first time with a new species. Unfortunately there are lots out there that are just as I stated "greedy etc." SIGH. You wouldn't believe some of the people who contact me looking for female breeders & what their plans are for them. I'll admit that I'm more "tainted" then your average Joe (must be due to my 12 years on the road)& it effects the ole attitude LOL. Anyhow I obviously am a strong supporter of waiting. Good Luck with whatever is decided. Mark I.

[Lisa]

I think alot of problems we see with underweight hatchlings etc is from breeding too soon. It's not going to kill the snake to grow another year and could quite possibly make her a champion breeder.

[cornsnakefreak]

Thanks everyone for their comments. I have decided that I would like to wait another year or two because I CARE for my animals health more than I do about the money. Sure the extra cash is nice around the holidays but it is not worth the risk of my favorite snake. She was one of my first corn snakes that I bought. I would be devastated if I lost her. After I originally started this thread, I began to wonder. I have maintained a regular feeding schedule for her but have cut her back so that she has time to grow not store fat. She is about 249 grams as of today. I got a few comments somewhere else that she might be more fat then muscle so I cut her back to feeding every 3 weeks until she slims down and then i will put her on one rat pup every two weeks.

Thanks again for the comments and advice. It truely helped me make my decision.

[Invictus]

I personally have a standing rule with all of my female corns which is, they are not allowed to date until they are at least 3 years old, dammit! LOL... Seriously though, I'd rather have an absolute breeding machine that is 3 years old, done growing, and strong enough to be a doubleclutcher or at least a 20+'er. I've heard too many stories of people who had a female corn that was breedable size, but was too young, and they ended up surgically removing eggs, and that female would never breed again. I'm playing it way on the safe side. But, that's my choice. Others may choose differently.

[reverendsterlin]

I don't cut back feeding until growth slows, my babies from this year(July '03) are eating small adult mice. I find many folks feed too small of prey and that holds growth back. Yes some animals can be 300+ grams in 18-24 months and ready to breed, others are -300 grams at that age and need more time to be healthy breeders. It is NOT age but weight that determines healthy breeding. Anyone that tells you they breed at such-n-such age doesn't know what they are talking about(a 4 yo animal can be 200 grams and not good for breeding), 300+ grams in weight is the best indicator for successfull breeding without endangering your animal.