Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there,
Just wondering, can they retain for a long time? When my boys breed the girls, if there is no follicular development, what happens to the sperm? Does she retain it, vital of course, and then re release it into the oviduct? Or does it just get absorbed? Has anyone bred their pythons once and get eggs?
Your thoughts and comments are appreciated. I want to get a more mathematical with breeding, rather than scientific. Thanks in advance!

Well the snake reproductive system is designed for the female to retain sperm until such time as she has developed her follicles at which time releasing the sperm to fertilize the egg. Just how long she can retain viable sperm is up for arguement. Some have proven that she can retain sperm and fertilize folicles up to the following season (example: bred a pastel season one, a mojave season two and the eggs from season two have mojos and pastels) - this scenario has been seen a few times. Other say she can store sperm for years (thus disproving the "virgin birth" stories) tho I don't think anyone has proven this.

As far as what happens to the sperm if she doesn't use it - I would assume it most likely dies and is absorbed into her system - but I guess it could somehow be flushed out but I would think this would be less likely or there wouldn't be any "left overs" from the year before. Good question?!?!?!

And yes - a lot of people get eggs from just one breeding.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

6.42.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi)
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
0.0.1 Lizard of unknown origin

This is why we give a female a year off if we are going to switch her to another project. Especially when producing simple recessive hets.
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James and Vickie Bryan
Bryan Reptiles
bryanreptiles.tripod.com
bryanreptiles@lycos.com
A good name is more desirable than riches
Proverbs 22:1