When is a female mature enough to breed?

[terracolson]

I know my girl isnt ready now. She is only 9 months old and 275 grams. I did get Sandy, my red leatherback, for the purposes of breeding and I am under the impression to wait till she is 2 years old.
If she is mature enough at 1..if.. is it more dangerous at a younger age?
Should i wait till she is larger than my male? he is a monster at almost 540 grams.

Suggestions?

 

[ChiefsDaddy]

The minimum recommended age for breeding a female is 18 months. You will get even better results if you wait a full 2 years. IMO, it's worth the wait.

 

[Claudiusx]

Its safest to wait to breed a female until she is a year and a half to two years old.

From a Biological standpoint, they CAN breed younger than that. But from a health standpoint you should really give the female a chance to let her body fully mature before putting her through something as stressful on the body such as mating.

-Brandon

 

[terracolson]

That's what I was wondering.
So if her hatch date is 05/2011, she will be ok to mate 05/2013

 

[Claudiusx]

Assuming that she is healthy and has no parasites or anything like that.

-Brandon

 

[ChiefsDaddy]

Yep, you will be good to go then. Good luck! Make sure you save up lots of money for all those little hungry mouths.

 

[terracolson]

Its my second season to breed. Last time the female was my friends and she was 3 years old.
I actually have a very nice size roach colony that supported these guys last time, 3 clutches 27 eggs each time.
But i also only keep them for a week. Once they are eating i sell them for 10 dollars and if they pass within 6 weeks i refund the money. I also will take them back if they dont continue to eat.. I just do this for fun.
I also make sure they have a good set up and the new owners have a complete set up that I approve of.

I am sure lots of people will not like that but honestly, whats the big deal? I make sure they have a good home and the purchaser knows most breeders keep them till 6 weeks. That i am doing something completely unorthodox.

 

[Claudiusx]

That i am doing something completely unorthodox.

Well.... You said it yourself lol..

-Brandon

 

[ChiefsDaddy]

I think you're right. You won't find many people here the would support that. It sounds like you're doing a lot to make sure they go to a good home, but for my dragons, I just have a hard time trusting people to take care of my hatchlings. They're way too delicate at that point in their lives. But I won't tell you how to run your business.

 

[terracolson]

Have a great night..

 

[Beardednoob]

That i am doing something completely unorthodox.

Well.... You said it yourself lol..

-Brandon

There typically are good reasons something becomes orthodox.

 

[Esther19]

Well said.

 

[terracolson]

You guys are correct, but out of all 250 that hatched and were rehomed with small fee last year, all of them survived and all owners are happy. If the turn out would have been different I would have stopped and or will stop.
I just feel that once the baby is thriving at my home, putting it in a different tank with a new owner is not harmful. Of course I am fully inspecting the tanks and I continue to follow up with the owner. I also will provide it with the food for a small fee if they need it.
I really feel that one on one they get with there life owner is very important.