damzookeeper
09-29-04, 03:41 PM
Hi, I haven't had my balls for long and I have done some research online before and after I got them. I do intend on buying the ball manual from Scotty at the next expo, but until then I have a few questions and was hoping some of you could answer for me.
My female ball is 2.5 years old about half the size of my male who is about 4.5 years old. When I got them I was told I could breed them this year, but I probably wont because at the moment I have the male in a nice enclosure (still on the small side imo but satisfactory according to care sheets) Anyway, my female is in a blanket box rubbermaid. I will be building them new enclosures, hopefully soon, that will be at least 4x.15x1. (LxwxH) possibly longer.
Anyway, to get to my question,
1st. Is my female old enough to breed or should I wait and at what age do balls do best for breeding? I don't want to breed her too early!
2nd. Even if she isn't old enough for breeding should I cool her this year or wait till next year. She isn't the greatest feeder and aparently has never been. she doesn't always accept food offered and it takes her a long time to actually eat her rat but she hasn't stoped entirely yet.
3rd. Is there a sertain weight she should be before I cool her and how exactly would I go about cooling her.
I was told to cool my corns to stop feeding for 2 weeks, give them a nice soak for about 30 minutes or so, keep them off feeding for another 2 weeks and slowly lower the temps, then soak them again and put them into hibernation. I'm not sure if this is how to do it and have to get more info on that. Still waiting for my friend to return my corn manual. :( But I think I read that balls don't need to be cooled so drastic. But I cant' remember. Do you stop feeding them and cut the temps down a bit and give them 12 hour light, 12 hour darkness for a couple months and then give them the higher temps again and intorduce the male to the female? I really need to get a ball manual!
Please anyone correct anything that needs to be corrected and any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
P.s. right now they are on a 12-14 day feeding schedule. They wont accept any earlier than that. I haven't weighed them yet but I guess I should! Temps are about 87-90 on the warm side. They are on aspen bedding and have a water dish and a hide in their enclosures. And lighting is about 14 hours a day.
My female ball is 2.5 years old about half the size of my male who is about 4.5 years old. When I got them I was told I could breed them this year, but I probably wont because at the moment I have the male in a nice enclosure (still on the small side imo but satisfactory according to care sheets) Anyway, my female is in a blanket box rubbermaid. I will be building them new enclosures, hopefully soon, that will be at least 4x.15x1. (LxwxH) possibly longer.
Anyway, to get to my question,
1st. Is my female old enough to breed or should I wait and at what age do balls do best for breeding? I don't want to breed her too early!
2nd. Even if she isn't old enough for breeding should I cool her this year or wait till next year. She isn't the greatest feeder and aparently has never been. she doesn't always accept food offered and it takes her a long time to actually eat her rat but she hasn't stoped entirely yet.
3rd. Is there a sertain weight she should be before I cool her and how exactly would I go about cooling her.
I was told to cool my corns to stop feeding for 2 weeks, give them a nice soak for about 30 minutes or so, keep them off feeding for another 2 weeks and slowly lower the temps, then soak them again and put them into hibernation. I'm not sure if this is how to do it and have to get more info on that. Still waiting for my friend to return my corn manual. :( But I think I read that balls don't need to be cooled so drastic. But I cant' remember. Do you stop feeding them and cut the temps down a bit and give them 12 hour light, 12 hour darkness for a couple months and then give them the higher temps again and intorduce the male to the female? I really need to get a ball manual!
Please anyone correct anything that needs to be corrected and any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
P.s. right now they are on a 12-14 day feeding schedule. They wont accept any earlier than that. I haven't weighed them yet but I guess I should! Temps are about 87-90 on the warm side. They are on aspen bedding and have a water dish and a hide in their enclosures. And lighting is about 14 hours a day.