Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have always kept Balls as pets. Upon arriving back in Texas, I picked up a few from a friend that no longer had the time for them. Added a couple to the collection last summer. Yes, doing the stupid thing and keeping them communally. 125 gal. Lizard Lounge. Quarantined before introduction of the new guys.

Anyway. My largest female hasn't eaten in 2-3 months. Off season...I'm cool with that. Medium has been cruising the tank and had the male all over her like teens at the prom. She still eats. Tonight is feeding night. All went as usual, everyone eating except the large girl. She looks like she hasn't missed a meal and possibly picked up a few extras.

So the questions:
Would she ovulate if she had not mated? Could her cycling be confusing the male and that is why he is chasing the medium girl? If either goes full gravid, should I put her in a seperate enclosure to reduce agression or will that be a problem.

Again, kinda new to the breeding aspect of balls. Wasn't planning on that until next year. May come a little sooner than expected. Any help or links to info would be great.

Thanks,
Jason
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That which does not kill me postpones the inevitable.

Wait, so the big female is in the same tank as the rest? I'd say anything that the big female DID mate and is ovulating. The boys are chasing after the medium girl cause, well, they're boys and want to keep making babies.

Prepare for babies After she sheds you've got about a month until she lays.
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
0.0.1 Mountain Horned Lizard
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
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)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

Yep. I picked up 3 females froma friend and got a male pastel last summer. Thinking "He's an 06 male. That gives me until this summer to build the rack or just get a bunch of rubbermaid tubs. I'll start cycling and cooling and next year I'll be set." Apparently he's thinking "I'm the PIMP." Luckily I'm already working on the incubator and getting that ready to go.

So do I need to get her out of there or will she be OK "mothering" with a crowd?

Thanks,
Jason

These are the potential parents

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That which does not kill me postpones the inevitable.

You'll probably want to get her out of there. They get CRANKY and I doubt her cagemates will appreciate her hoarding the warm side after she ovulates.

Boys will be boys! Mine is still trying to mate with anything that even vaguely resembles a snake...
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
0.0.1 Mountain Horned Lizard
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
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)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

I would definetly put her in a seperate enclosure as soon as possible with a moist hide to lay her eggs. Make sure that you have the proper temps in this enclosure also.I would than start immediatly looking at making a incubator for the soon to arrive eggs.Their are plenty of DIY incubators that you can construct good luck.

Apparently I'm going about this whole breeding thing the wrong way.
Here I am...trying to get my snakes to breed...
manipulating temps and seasons...
when all I have to do is house them together.

Sheesh...what was I thinking?
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

What I find as ironic is all of the O.S. posts form the people like myself that just happened upon breeding. At the same time, there are posts from some of the Big Guys aggrevated because thiers still haven't started.

Like I said, I have done nothing to encourage this and was planning on a dry run this season. Set up incubator and make sure levels stay level. Get feeding and shed schedules more regular. All the research stuff so next season I would be on top of it.

O-wait. Just remembered. I did complain a little because of the whole rats and cats breeding but not the snakes. Maybe that's the key. You have to get everything else to start breeding.
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That which does not kill me postpones the inevitable.

My rats just had babies a few days ago, and my cats are both male. Haha.

Looks like I may be in luck.
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)