Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Y'know, I thought I'd be able to skip asking any breeding questions this year...but nope.

I started cooling in about September when temps at night started dropping enough to cool my snake tanks. Almost immediately my male and female locked up, and continued to lock up every time I put the male in, which was about every other week or so. My male ate twice during this period but my female has refused to eat since the end of August.
I put them back in together about two weeks ago and they showed no interest whatsoever. I figured well, they've been hooking up enough, if she's not knocked up by now she never will, and seperated them again and put the temps back up.

Now the pickle: I was gone for a week in Colorado and unable to actually see my snakes (I did have someone changing water and checking temps but that was all they did).
Both my male and female shed at the exact same time a few days before I left for Colorado, both perfect sheds and perfectly normal. I don't think my female has ovulated (from what I've read it should be unmistakable), nor does she particularly look (or act) gravid. However, she is CRANKY, still refusing to eat (I'm running through my repertoire of tricks with no success) and curling up in a perfect coil... on the HOT side of the tank.
Temps at this exact moment are 90 on the hot side and 79 on the cold.

Her extreme crankiness is not normal behavior for her at all, although the hunger strike is something she seems to take sadistic delight in every other year or so.

When should I have expected her ovulate or could she still ovulate? What could I have done wrong that would have caused her not to ovulate? And why on earth is she being so darn cranky?!

I really don't know what's going on, so any and all help appreciated!

~jenny
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.0.1 california kingsnake (Tetris)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
2.0 horses (Buddy and Sam)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." - Voltaire

Hi,
I think people get to worried about could this be a sign of this or that. Although there is a number of diffrent signs to look for with breeding balls I don't think you should constantly be worried if you don't see them. If they locked up multiple times your chances are good. The breeding season is still under way and she can wait till when ever she decides to go. So I would say still put him in every now and then, just in case. So just do what you know how to for them and they will do the rest. Good luck,
Casey

Alright, I was just worried about her sudden mood swing. She's 14, almost 15 years old and in all of that time I've been bitten twice, both times my fault (rat issues), and so for her to suddenly be hissing at me when I change her water is somewhat alarming!

Thanks for the response,
~jenny
-----
1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.0.1 california kingsnake (Tetris)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
2.0 horses (Buddy and Sam)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." - Voltaire

Yes. I do notice the attitude problem with some of my girls that have been bred. Once they lay. It has gone away. Back to norm.
Good luck,
Casey