boa sizes

[sunglow]

can i breed a 3 1/2 - 4ft male boa to females that are around 7 to 8ft ?

[Missi]

I'd say yes, so long as the ages of the snakes make them old enough to be sexually mature. Which I think is 2 years old or maybe 2 1/2 years old, not entirely sure.

[sunglow]

yeah the males around 2/12 years old i beleve and the females i plan to breed the male with are 5 to 11 years old. it just seems like some of the females could eat the male whole without a problem.

[Paul Petz]

In my case it seems like the younger males produce larger litters than the old big ones.

[M.S.M]

there wouldnt be a problem mate but mate him to just one female giving him short breaks every week to keep him keen. If you breed him to more than one he might not do a full job on either of them as its his first time, resulting in slugs for both females. You have a better chance if he concentrates on just one.
After all its better to have one litter then have to piles of slugs.

[sunglow]

the females are big enough to eat the male without a problem. what are the chances of that?

[Missi]

Slim to none. Just keep a good watch on them and make sure there isn't any aggression. It's rare, but snakes do mistake other snakes for being something else and will bite eachother and fight. I've only witnessed it once with my cousin's ball pythons, they fought over food because he refuses to separate them for feeding. Keep an eye on them, but I highly doubt you'll have any problems.

[Linda]

Boas don't normally eat their mates. Most times when a boa eats another boa it's from a "feeding accident". Normally these are babies that are either fed in the same cage or fed seperately and put back together too soon. Sort of their still in feeding mode and their cage mate looks good to them.

I don't think there's ever been an instance where a female ate a smaller male that was in there for breeding purposes. I'm not saying it never happens but, as far as I know, it's never happened with a boa.

Just make sure you keep an eye on them for a while when you first intorduce them. If she shows aggression, take him out right away. If she starts whipping her tail and laying down urates... Leave him in a while. Watch them and she should calm down fairly quickly. As long as she's not aggressive you can leave them together. I normally watch mine for 30 to 45 minutes. Most times, if the female is ready, the male will go right to courting.

[sunglow]

alright thanks for the info