That is incredible information and great observation with only working with your ultrasound recently. That is AWESOME stuff.

I hope this doesn't sound like I'm saying you're wrong, I'm right because I am NOT at all. Everyone has different ways of doing it, and one isn't right over the other. Heck, if the result is babies, then who cares?? lol

However, I have noticed that in Ball Pythons that vitellogenic occurs between 12mm’s and 13 mms. I have seen this happen at a larger state on SOME females. However, with the Boas, I have noticed this happen exactly at 15mm’s. Maybe I’m wasting my males, but I usually like to have them courting when the follicles are about 13 mm’s. I have found that the females have strong pheromones at this size, and the males go nuts. You are right that they growth rate is variable with different females. I get very frustrated when a female gets STUCK at a certain size. If they stay the same size for longer then 3 weeks, I find they usually retain the follicles, and we have to try again next year. I have never seen a female go above 33 mms and then retain them. As for Ball Pythons I have not seen a female reabsorb the eggs after they are larger then 25mm’s. However, I’m sure it is still possible. Like I said, I could be wasting my males and putting them in too early when I really don’t need to until the follicular size is bigger. I do sometime catch a female at 20mm’s or larger before I even have a male in with her. I have come to the conclusion that no matter WHAT, I will only use 1 male to 2 females NO MORE. Even if the male can handle it and the females ovulate quickly, I am not going to put them with more. I have lost too many males to stress, and tail infections. The only way I could have a male breed more then 2 females is if he is in a breeding group with multiple males. If this is the situation I am starting to give my Males a TIME limit. If they haven’t finished in this time, they are OUT of the cage. Of course other males can finish the job. (I only do this in a few situations). This year I have pulled males that I have NO doubts could breed a LOT more, but they are happy to feed in my warm room too. There is always NEXT year, and males are a lot more valuable then a few more litters. IT took me a long time to learn this lesson.

We also may be seeing different things and describing it the same way. When I bought my updated software for my Rectal probe, I could see this process MUCH clearer. So, maybe your ultrasound just isn’t picking it up until later, or maybe your Boas growth rate of follicular development is just a little different in your neck of the woods is exactly as you described it. That is completely possible. However, that was an AWESOME post with incredible detail. I thought I was the only one who really paid attention to stuff like that. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best of luck to you and Celia this year. I can’t wait to see your Jungles. I bet they are SCREAMERS!!!!!! Take Care, and thanks for sharing such detailed information.

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