Boa breeding 101 questions

nomadbean · #1 (**permalink**) 08-07-2002, 11:40 PM

Hello all-

I have a lovely 2 yr old redtail that I am interested in getting a mate for. I want to buy it a little younger than her a yearling or so. I want to get to know that snake before I try to breed them. I am looking for a male if anyone has one (preferably with some pink?) , but the bigger question is....I need more breeding info...I have the caring down pat for redtails, but I am new to breeding snakes. I was wondering if what I know so far is accurate and where I can get more info...
1) Female should be 6ish feet long and 15-20 lbs
2) Male should be 5ish feet and 10-15 lbs
3) Keep them separate except for breeding
4) They give live birth---20 or so hatchlings
5)Ok, so I don't know that much...lol

Seriously, just like when I got my first red-tail I want to do some more research. Thanks to Julius I found the boaphile video, but what books are worth reading, do I feed the babies when they are born immed., how do I house them after they are born...etc.....

I am not leaping before looking, please help with the info. If all else fails I won't breed them without the info, but I would like another snake. They are hard to come by where I live (Wyoming)...I can barely find rats (I found a company that will ship them to me ..yay)

As always thanks for the help and plz do not hesitate to correct me if my "facts" are of base in some way.. Trina [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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Ed_r · #2 (**permalink**) 08-07-2002, 11:49 PM

All i did was have em all live together they got frisky and did their think. When the babies came out ya clean em off a bit seperate them from mom and after their first shed(about a week) feed them rat pinks rest is history.
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nomadbean · #3 (**permalink**) 08-07-2002, 11:58 PM

Thanks, is a 4' x 2' x 2' big enough for both?? Or do I have to double it because the are two of them??
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morti · #4 (**permalink**) 08-08-2002, 12:30 AM

I would strongly reccomend going to www.theboaphile.com and looking at his article on breeding boas. Then if you like that info, buy his video. It answered all my questions better than any answers you could get in a forum.
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trinitywolf · #5 (**permalink**) 08-08-2002, 03:33 AM

Hey Bean...I would suggest The Reproductive Husbandry of Pythons and Boas by Ross and Marzec. Some of the information in it is out of date but it is the most comprehensive book around when it comes to breeding boas and pythons.
The Boaphiles Video is great! I have it and it answered so many questions that it is ridiculous. It is pricey at $50 but worth EVERY PENNY! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] The only thing that the Boaphiles vid does not include is problems with gestation, sexual organs, and reproductive fecundity (a fancy word for fertility). All of those things are in the book, along with lots of graphs on temps, what times of year most boas give birth and so on. It is a text book, so it is WAY dry. LOL
Anyway, good luck!
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nomadbean · #6 (**permalink**) 08-09-2002, 01:56 AM

Thanks Trinity-

I guess I'm going back to school for more than my master's .....to breed snakes too. Lol. Seriously thanks, I hope I can get all the info together and start looking for a boyfriend for Zoe soon. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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trinitywolf · #7 (**permalink**) 08-09-2002, 04:06 AM

Sure bean! NP.
I am not saying this to question your ability but just in a general sense. Please make sure that you are ready for the long term commitment of raising snakes. I urge anyone interested in breeding to go for it. Just make sure you are interested in it for the right reasons. I think that we should all take that approach with all the animals that we raise.

Once again, Good luck! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Ted
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nomadbean · #8 (**permalink**) 08-11-2002, 10:17 PM

Trinity-

I have thought about it for awhile and had two snakes for two years. The way I figure it they are easier to handle than kids, cleaner, don't talk back and quiet. Lol. Seriously, I do want them for a long time and I thought it might be fun to have a new challenge to learn about. When I can answer all the question people ask me then I will start. Until then.... just me and my girls hanging out. Thanks for the concern, its good to know you guys worry about who takes on this responsiblity. There is a lot to know that I have found out and I'm sure more that I don't know yet. I'll let you guys know when I think I'm ready and you all can give me a quiz or something. Lol. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] Trina
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trinitywolf · #9 (**permalink**) 08-12-2002, 03:56 AM

No quiz necassary Trina! lol [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] I think it's great that you have thought it out. Not everyone does. We have all jumped into something before we were really ready at some time or another. I know I have.
Anyway, I don't think that you have to know everything...just have the willingness to learn. If you ask me, that is key to everthing. I think it's great that you want to. This site has been a real learning spot for me. There is a plethora of knowledge here.
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