Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK. Guess I'll be the first to do the paranoid/impatient post this season. I have my first female about to drop her clutch in the next few days. But my other 4 haven't even ovulated yet, as far as I've seen. They've bred multiple (like 10 ) times and are nice and swollen and glowing, but nothing to bank on yet. I know I still have a couple months before I even need to start wondering if they didn't take, right? I just wish they were closer. My first clutch will be hatching by the time the rest are even laid. Also, for more experienced breeders, how often do you have females that breed all season but nothing ever comes from it? This is only my second year. Thanks for the support.

Just wondering what you are planning to use for an incubator & how many eggs you are planning on ending up with for this season.
(newbie trying to learn the early ropes of breeding for next year)

I have an incubator from Nature's Spirit. Been running for weeks. I even have an egg box all set up and ready to go so I can just put the eggs right in. My 1 gravid female should be laying in the next 2 days. She looks ready to go at any time. I would love to get 5 clutches since I've had 5 females breeding for the last 5 months. Which would give me up to 40 eggs, but I guess I have to just wait and see what happens.

for ovulations. I started my colony later this year due to Florida's messed up winter (do we even have a winter) weather. Normally, my animals don't even start to ovulate until the end of March. Many times, I miss the ovulation as they are on their own schedule anyway, regardless (to a point) of what you do and want them to do.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Out of all of our females i think 2 have ovulated, 90% are still due to ovulate, there is still plenty of time left in this season Good luck and keep us posted.
Kim
N.A.R.C

since it's getting warmer here in PA. And they've been breeding since October. I feel like they've been down long enough and my male hasn't eaten since November. I'm planning on being back to 24/7 heat by April 1st. Will that help or hinder the cycle, or doesn't it matter?

Mine are all cycled the same, housed in almost the exact same settings, etc. Yet, they do what they want. Last year I had eggs hatch May through Nov - 6 month spread!
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

We have one girl in particular that even if she is the last girl breed she will be the first to lay every year for the last 3 years. We also have another girl that will be the last to lay regardless of temps, or cycles. I do beleive they go when they want we just give them the extra encouragment .
Kim
N.A.R.C

Puts my mind somewhat at ease to know everyone else goes through the same things. Is this a discussion forum or a support group? Hmmm.

The old will my snakes produce question Let me just say that no matter how long you've been doing this or how many clutches you've prouced we all go through the same stress. Every year I get to a point where I’m sure I’m not going to produce anything. But it always works out in the end. Sometimes I get a little better percentage and sometimes a little worst then what I want, but it always seems to workout. I’ve often said that we should open up a Ball Python breeders stress phone line. I would probably be on it more then anyone else.
There is still a ton of time left in the season, we’ve only has a handful of ovulations, but we have a bunch of females that are growing follicles and are at least a month to two months from ovulation. Be patient and remember that stress will not help your animals produce. I guess what I’m saying is to practice what I preach not what I do
As for the percentage of females that breed multiple times and still won't produce, it’s a more complicated question. There are many variables to consider. But let’s say you have a group of 100% healthy and well fed females and you breed them all over a three year window. You’d probably average between 70% and 90% production. But then you’d have to factor in if the females put enough weight on for breeding, if the males where interested in them all and so on. But I think you get my point. If we’re below 70% I think of it as a bad production year, and if we’re above 90% I think of it as a hugely successful year.
Good luck with your remaining females I’m sure you’ll be fine. Brian (BHB)

And thanks for this line of cinnies. The best looking, in my opinion. The male I'm using is an '05 BHB. All he cares about is breeding, and does it for days at a time when I turn him loose. This is all so much fun and I love seeing what I've been working toward for years finally starting to happen. But the snakes NEVER leave my mind. Fine line between fun and obsession I guess. Good luck. You need it more than I do with those 5,000 you just brought back up. I can't even imagine what it takes to maintain that many. Thanks again. Ryan.

after six cops I am beginning to think that she isn't going this year Oh well.
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"Can't you just feed it vegetables"? No, no I can't you stupid hippie.