What Ball projects should we --> breeders and hobbyist-- be focusing on?

[EmeraldBoid]

I do not think the problem is normal females...too MANY normals females, too many pinstripe females, too many pastel females, too MANY balls with too MUCH output is a problem, period. I have decided to keep most of my females as either single gene or supers, never produce more than 3 ball clutches a year, and give all animals at least a year off before breeding again. This is my way of not only keeping my animals in optimal health, but allowing me some limits in terms of output. I have explored other forums as a lurker and love how some people will be ranting about the flooded market in one thread, then in the next topic they are showing off all 5 of their spinners on eggs sired by a killer bee/banana/"dinker"/whatever had a pair and was in the same rack. I do not like looking at a saturated market, so I am going to use practices that keep my output low. If you like the saturated market, then keep throwing that silver streak to anything with an ovary.

 

[FelixatRI]

Very well put emeraldboid

 

[David Reid]

I do not think it is too many female. The problem as I see it was people using one high dollar co dom male and a ton of normal females to produce nothing but a ton of single gene animals. That might work the first year, but not for long. I do think people who should give their females a year off here or there do not. I like 7-10 eggs every other year over 1-5 eggs with a few slugs every year.

Dave

 

[j_dunlavy]

I do not think it is too many female. The problem as I see it was people using one high dollar co dom male and a ton of normal females to produce nothing but a ton of single gene animals. That might work the first year, but not for long. I do think people who should give their females a year off here or there do not. I like 7-10 eggs every other year over 1-5 eggs with a few slugs every year.

Dave

It drives me nuts how a lot of breeders power-feed to get their females up to size quickly and breed them every year. It is not good for them.
I would rather let them grow at their normal pace and give them some time off at least every other year.
I want my snakes to be healthy, and happy more than I want more babies.
To me, the whole reason to breed them is because I like them.

 

[bcr229]

I do think people who should give their females a year off here or there do not. I like 7-10 eggs every other year over 1-5 eggs with a few slugs every year.

Interesting, in some of the boa forums I've seen comments from breeders that pairing the females every other year instead of every year yields healthier litters, fewer slug outs, etc.

 

[EmeraldBoid]

It is highly unlikely that most wild snake species find a mate every season. It only makes sense that back to back breeding can be detrimental or limiting in terms of fertility and health. Honestly, I am considering making my two year rule collection wide, meaning that I give every female of every species at least 2 years off instead of 1 between breeding...this is something I already have set up for my gtp and etb projects, but I am starting to think it would be good for the others as well. Also, besides the physical health characteristics, I wonder how females feel when they are in a constant cycle of eat and lay eggs for years on end...they have no time or energy for recreation, which I think is still very important even if reptiles are quite low on the emotional sensitivity chart. I like to take all my snakes outside sometimes or just hang out inside, and I want all my snakes to have those nice long days when they can just sit in their cage and be worry free. Ever since I started keeping arboreals a few years ago, I have learned the value of conservative husbandry practices.

 

[EmeraldBoid]

It is highly unlikely that most wild snake species find a mate every season it would only make sense that back to back breeding could be detrimental or limiting in terms of fertility and health. .. .

This is mainly referring to females...highly unlikely that back to back breeding of males is seriously detrimental.

 

[Big Borg Reptiles]

I do not think it is too many female. The problem as I see it was people using one high dollar co dom male and a ton of normal females to produce nothing but a ton of single gene animals. That might work the first year, but not for long.

Dave

I can see that with bananas. The businessman in me shakes his head at how stupid these people are, while the cheapskate in me nods his head because he knows it's going to make them worthless in a year. I love how bananas look and I really want one (even if just as a pet), but with the way people are popping em out I don't see any reason to buy one right now. I can already see that the supply is going to tank them within a year.