should i burmate my 12"

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

T.s. pickeringii and 2 7" ones im getting from kevin (that im hoping r females) so that when i burmat ethem next year they can mate?
or if i just burmate next year they will still mate?

[Elliot]

Do you mean you're planning on breeding them next year?

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

Do you mean you're planning on breeding them next year?
yeaaaaaaaaaaa

[Elliot]

They're still way to small for that, especially if the females are only 7".

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

They're still way to small for that, especially if the females are only 7".
if i bought a female for next year will the male be ready to mate?

[Elliot]

Basically, the rule is the bigger the better when breeding, especially for the female. The longer you wait, the better chance you'll have of getting a healthier set of babies.

[adamanteus]

Reed, don't rush the breeding thing too much, you (and they) have all the time in the world, let them grow up and enjoy them for a while. With very small snakes, like the ones you're descibing (7"), I'd be tempted to skip brumation this year and just warm them and feed them straight through the winter.

[ssssnakeluvr]

you generally want the females to be at least 18" long....occasionally smaller for some of the smaller species...

[Ameivaboy]

Reed,

I would wait at least until their second year, let them grow normally dont "power feed" either like some people do. Snakes that grow and eat at a normal rate tend to be more long term breeders than power fed animals or ones that were bred to soon. you might get babies faster but you wont get as many over the years I promoise, gotta think long term


Kevin

[ssssnakeluvr]

it generally takes me 3 yers to get a female to breeding size and 2 for a male....

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

it generally takes me 3 yers to get a female to breeding size and 2 for a male....
hmm fineeee

[GarterGuy]

Gotta say I agree with everyone else here. Too many people push their animals to breed and they usually not only end up with unsuccessful breedings but also with animals that don't really live that long either. For the sake of the snakes you have now and the babies they may have later, I'd give it a year or two.

Roy

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

k thanx everyone one thing im not clear on do you have to burmate them oncebefore you burmate them to mate the or the first time you burmate them will they mate?

[zooplan]

Most females must be burmated twice before reaching mating size, male only once.
But its a question of growth. When garters are captive breed for some generations it possible that they can breed after only 9,5 month.
Then they need to redouble their wieght about seven times.
That means in average 6 weeks for 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 gramms.