Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If so, are they ever known to breed thoughtout the year?

Kevin

Do YOU only produce sperm during the "breeding season"??

(joke)

I believe males can breed year-round, just like females.
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Ryan Farris

take what rfarris (

Just my opinion based on my experience, books I've read, etc. Yes, they have sperm and may breed, but they usually have no interest. Cycling is the trigger that causes males to increase production, females to let off the right odor, and stimulate breeding. Take a few hikes in the hills around you and be observant. In the wild, animals go in and out of season based on temps, hours of daylight, rain, and offspring being produced when food will be available. Conduct your own experiment. Put a male that has not bred for 2 months in with a female that was either too young or produced eggs that have already hatched. I'll bet that you will see no activity. His sperm glands are most likely to be full, he hasn't used any so his production is shut down. The female will not be letting off the right odor, so there will be no interest.
I've observed this behavior with several species.
Just my opinion.

There are some people that breed throught the year - I think it's a matter of being able to replicate the natural breeding season in order for the snakes to properly "get in the mood". Light and Temps can be easily managed but I think you've also got to have the proper barmetric pressure and a constant rainy season (since that's when they breed). I would think if you are in Seattle you would do better at maintaining a year around breeding colony than if you were in Arizona (but this is all based on theory). We see new hatchlings year round so they are doing it year round - just not as many as spring hatchlings.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

11.42.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.1.0 Bredls Python (Smurfette)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

I bought my ball python as a hatchling in October of last year. It's possible that she had been hatched in the spring, but I believe that the pet store manager said that she was an unusual late-season offspring.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

How long will males stay in breeding mode? Will a male keep breeding long enough to staisfy both early females and those who go late?

Kevin

It depends on the snake really...

Maybe there are some answers to your questions in here:

Male Ball Python Breeding Weight

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Ryan Farris

Would a 1000g. male in top condition be able to breed for say six months out of the year or is there usually a smaller window?

Kevin