When do you recommend retiring female corn snakes

[gene22]

I have been looking for a female lavender corn snake to pair with my male. I found one that is 8 years old. I would like to breed them when the male get old enough. At what weight is a male ready to breed. Also, when is it reconvenes to retire a female from breeding? Thanks

 

[Twolunger]

I have been looking for a female lavender corn snake to pair with my male. I found one that is 8 years old. I would like to breed them when the male get old enough. At what weight is a male ready to breed. Also, when is it reconvenes to retire a female from breeding? Thanks

It is really hard to give a definitive answer to your questions. A male that is not brumated, and fed heavily, may be capable of breeding in 2 years. Typically, I wait 3 years and don't force the growth. Trying to determine when a female should be retired is another hard question. Egg laying does take a toll on females, but I have read of 12 year old corns that were still laying. A lot depends upon whether or not the females were induced to double clutch, and how much care they were given after laying. I was chatting with a corn breeder who was selling a 12 year old female. She said her older females may lay smaller clutches or have fertility problems, so she sells them as pets only.

Good luck with the lavenders. They are one of my favorites, and I probably have too many of them, as well as het lavenders, but unfortunately I don't ship. Steve Roylance raises many lavenders and combinations every year. You may want to contact him for a nice lavender.