Sexual maturity in female ATB’s

[BoidKeeper]

I’m wondering what the age/weight/length is that are the determining factors in the maturity of female ATB’s?
Thanks,
Trevor

[Katt]

I've heard that female ATB's should be at least five feet in length, and imported females should have at least one year in captivity.

[Ed_r]

Length isn't too much of a factor. Different Localities of ATBs will not reach 5'. Females CAN breed at 2.5 to 3 years, but their chances of survival are very slim. ATBs have a very long gestation I've heard 7-8 months, i could be a little off , havent bred them yet. Females Should be very fat before trying to breed. Most will go on hunger strikes during the pregnancy, and 7-8 months is a long time with no food, specially with youngins living off of you. I wouldn't breed an ATB female until 4-5 yrs of age.

[LdyDrgn]

I strongly agree with Ed. Female ATBs should not breed until at least 4 years old

[BoidKeeper]

Cool, thanks guys! Although the one I have, is from what I've been told so far, is a psycho path!(picking her up tomorrow) I hope I can put up with her for 4 yrs! lol
Cheers,
Trevor

[Ed_r]

Their strikes are highly predictable. If your looking for a lap snake, look elsewhere. These for the most part bite first, see if they like you second, then bite you again.

[Katt]

I'm interested in knowing what locales don't reach five feet.

I've never bred them, but read from Danny Mendez's article that they should be bred at a minimum of 4.5 feet, but the five stuck in my head instead of the 4.5!

[Ed_r]

Cooks tree boas almost NEVER see 5'. Almost .lol Many island locals like Trinidad and Grenada and some smaller islands that have a corallus ssp. stay smaller.

[Katt]

Well he wasn't asking about cook's or trinny's. <laugh> Those aren't different locale's of ATB, but different species/subspecies.

[Ed_r]

This is true, but as you also know Cooks and all the other ssp, are sold as Amazons and vice versa. How many times have you seen someone selling "Collored Cooks Tree Boas" Obviously Cooks tree boas do not have colors, the specifics of the ssp are they are taupe colored with light blotching only. Many are misidentified when they are sold, and scale counts overlap throughout the ssps.