The golden corn years

[askaboutrep]

My female corn is getting up in years....middle aged I guess. She is about 9 years of age. Breeding age can be up to 10 or 11 I have read. Would it be better not to have her breed at this age?

[nguyen_inc]

i was told that it matters of how big the snake is, 36ish inches. I thought they could breed at age 1ish or untill they get big enough...

[Bartman]

No, ive been told 3 years is when its safe to start. Deffinetly not one year.

Not sure if it can get to old to breed though..sorry!

[hooter]

You are both wrong. You dont breed a snake based on the age but rather the weight and size of the snake is the main factor. Sure the age has something to do with basing your opinion on a good time to try breeding but the determining factor is all in the weight and health of the snake.

[Dani33]

Why isn't anyone answering his question. His snake is 9 YEARS OLD. Wants to know when to STOP breeding it. Sorry, I don't have an answer for you. If she is till looking good, I would maybe give her a season or more.

[lostwithin]

Hi, I would say you are fine to breed her, When the snake becomes to old too produce you will know, she either will not breed for you, or she will being too produce only slugs, then you know she’s past her prime.

Devon

[askaboutrep]

She is getting pretty thin, despite upping her feeding a bit, thats why I was wondering if the stress of egg laying would be too much.

[zero&stich]

If thats the case, I wouldnt attempt it. Last thing you want is to have her eggbound.

[Invictus]

My adult female corn, who shot out 2 clutches for me this year, is of unknown age, but I assume her to be somewhere between 5 and 10. She is skinny as hell - even though I give her 90-100g rats every meal, she stays skinny. Take the overall health of the snake into consideration, fatten her up (hopefully she won't have an INSANE metabolism like mine has) and breed away.

[jjaj02]

Ok, so then at what length/weight is it ok to breed them at?

[Katt]

Ok hooter you are wrong too.

Age, sizeweight all play a role.

Humans hit puberty not at a certain age, but when the body fat reaches a certain percentage. This means that nine year olds can bear children, but should they?

Now corn snakes on the other hands can breed at 18 mos and at three feet and 200g, but does this mean it is healthy? Sure, she may lay eggs for you a few years, if you are lucky, and she doesn't get eggbound the first year from lack of proper muscle, but a quick death is what you are asking for.

As for snakes that are too old. How is her muscle tone? Her general condition? Is she losing weight? How thin is thin? What is her weight?

I would say if she's in good condition, then by all means try it. If she's geriatric, then don't, you could kill her.

[ultimatecorns]

Actually, It all matters on Length. It is safe once females are 36" long; Ive also had a 24" male breed before and all the egss hatched. Thats what my experience has led me to. Interestingly, I have had 0 year olds breed for me (Males and Females). Yes, thats right I have bred a snake before it has turned 1 years old. To do this, I power fed it as soon as it hatched every 3 days a pinky. Within a month it was on a pinky with little fuz on it and later a fuzzy. Few months it was on hoppers (still every 3 days) and then it ate a adult mouse 10 days before I put it down for a months' brumation (i brumate my snakes for 2 months; it was coming in for the second month). When it came out of brumaion, I fed it a smaller adult the waited 1 week and fed it an adult every3-5 days. When it shed i tried to breed it, it was interested but was unexperienced. It took a few more tries , but it bred. The male i bred it to was a Hypo het Lavender. She laid 8 eggs, all hatched. BTW she is a Hypo. The babies came out Hypo 66% POSS Het Lavender.

[Katt]

Wow, reading that bothered me a lot. I'm sure I won't be making any purchases from a breeder whose breeding ethic bothers me so.

I do not see the reason in breeding an animal that young, except for money.

[ultimatecorns]

1st, all the offspring from that clutch had a 100% hatch rate. They all have a 100% survival rate. I have not lost any due to birth defects or anything else.
2nd, a friend of mine who is the best at Cornsnakes regardless what you think, does this power feeding to get his projects to breed faster. I dont know if you have heard of him. He created a Striped hypo lavender, Striped Creamsicle, Motley Creamsicle, Striped Cinnamin, and many other secret projects im not gonna tell you. I wanted to test it for my self. So I did. And it works perfectly.
3rd, there is nothing ethically wrong with this, despite your beliefs,with this. I didnt force it to eat, it ate everything I gave it. I didnt force it to breed, it willingly bred after trying. I just didnt do anything of the likes of what you speak.
Lastly, watch what you are saying. You are getting close to slander written form. Keep slanderous opinions to yourself.

[Oliverian]

100% mortality rate

:p So they all died?

;) I think you mean %100 survival rate. Personally I don't agree with that method, whatever is best for the snakes right?

-TammyR

[ultimatecorns]

Lol. Nice save. High five. Dont leave me hangin! Jk. Opinions are opinions, facts are facts.

[Katt]

Opinions are opinions

Exactly and that is what I stated. Please don't start with slander/libel, it is old and tiring.

Also I'm very glad for your friend. I wish him and the best of luck with your "secret projects".

[ultimatecorns]

Lol. No they are his secret projects,but check out his site: www.roylancereptiles.com

[zero&stich]

Some oddball stuff on that site. Kewl!

[askaboutrep]

ok, back to the topic here....
Her first clutch this year was 100%. Her second clutch, out of 10 eggs only produced only one, but very healthy baby. Up to this point, the eggs have been 100% every year.
She is still very active, but she used to be fatter around than a toonie(I think that might be half dollar size, for you americans), and now she is maybe a loonie. She isnt as strong anymore either.
Actually, I took her to a breeder in Red Deer to get her sexed when she was about a year, so I could buy a partner for her, and I was told she was the strongest corn he has ever held. I was very proud.
Based on your opinions I will try her again next year, and if things dont go well, then...no more nookie for her.... ;)

[Linds]

Originally posted by ultimatecorns
Opinions are opinions, facts are facts.

Exactly. <b>Fact</b> is, that age is very important. While a snake may be of a certain size, it takes a set amount of time for bones to finish calcifying, muscles to become strong enough, etc. No matter how early a snake will attain a certain size, bones and muscles take a set amount of time to reach maturity, regardless of what is done, this process can't be sped up. It can however, be slowed down or degraded as a result of improper care (feeding, breeding, etc.). It is known that all available stores and incoming nutrients go to the production of eggs in breeding females, so what is to happen if you inflict this upon a female who is still developing, and is in much need of every last bit of nutrition she can get to aid in proper development? If an animal hasn't suffered as a result of premature breeding, it is by no means other than luck. Even if they show no immediate signs, they likely will not reach their maximum lifespan, and may not even reach their gentically predetermined size.