Carpet Python Breeding Age?

[Ed_r]

Just curious how old a female Queensland Coastal Carpet Python would need to be to breed? I know they are the largest of the carpets, just not sure what is the earliest to be bred. Shag needs a g/f and it's next to impossible to find an adult big enough for him. Closest I found was a 5 yr old female that was underfed and maybe 5.5' at best. Shag is pretty much right at 8', he s big healthy boy!

Also would it be a problem if the male was soo much bigger than the female? I know ideally they should be the same size or the female to be bigger.

[telefrag]

I bred a pair when the female was 5 and the male was 7.
Im sure they would of bred earlier, I just never bothered.

The male was at about 7.5 ft and the female about 6.5

[trinitywolf]

I'm no expert, but I have found, the sexual dimorphism of boas is really the exception in the snake world, and not the rule. Females are not normally the larger of the sexes. That being said, I'll also say I don't really know squat about those "dirty egg layers"

I bet if you put up an ad though Ed...you could find someone that could give ol' Shag a good shagging!

[kid]

I think it has alot to do with weight to.

[bensnacks]

If she is underfed don't try Ed.
Get plenty of weight back on her.
A general rule for pythons is they reach sexual
maturity when around 3/4's of the average adult
body lenght which I have at 250cm .
So she would be getting there.
Trinity , in the case of carpet pythons the females are
generally the larger.

[Ed_r]

Ben i never got the 5.5' female. I could neve support someone that doesn't take proper care of their animals.

Is it me or is there dimorphism(sp) with Coastal carpets? Every female i have seen has a lighter backround like a light olive color , while the males I have seen, Shag included, are very dark high contrast colors.

Kid; All my Snakes have good wieght... they must watch me allot.lol

Trinity: I dont know about the ad thing. Not too many people keep coastals. I think the only one on here is Dr. O i think.

[kid]

lol

[bensnacks]

I've nver read anything that suggests colouration differences between males and females (not to say it doesn't exist) my male
varies quite a bit sometimes seeming to have olive/green tones to brown to dark brown.
The only outside differences I am familiar with are larger cloacal spurs on males and a slight 'bulging' anterior to the cloaca in males to accomodate the hemi-penis.

	Spurs A pair of claws on each side of the cloaca which assist in mating. A spur is much more defined on a male

	Cloaca is the posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal, urinary, and (usually) genital tracts of certain animal species.All birds, reptiles, and amphibians possess this orifice, from which they excrete both urine and feces