Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My son has a python I think it's a female.....
1)How do you tell the difference between males and females?
2)How old do they have to be? I've heard they have to be 3 years old....
3)Do they have to be a certain weight to breed?

I'm not usually on this forum...hence the name...
Thanks for any help...
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CD
Corns(Adults)
1.0 Snow ZigZag
1.0 Bloodred het Pewter
0.1 Banded Motley het Amel
0.1 Blizzard het Anery A
Corns(Sub-adult)
1.0 Anerythristic

1)How do you tell the difference between males and females?

Probing is the most reliable way for adult ball pythons. Find a veterinarian or qualified herpetoculturist in your area.

2)How old do they have to be? I've heard they have to be 3 years old....

Males can breed well around 18 months although there are exceptions. Females can breed well around 3-4 years although with females weight is of most concern.

3)Do they have to be a certain weight to breed?

Males can be reproductive at 400g and up. Although 400g is on the very low end. It is regularly stated on this forum and I feel it is important to have a female at 1500g at the beginning of the breeding season to be most successful. There are many exceptions and some breed females as little as 1200g. I had a 2 year old 900g female build follicles this year but I did not attempt to breed her for her own safety. A 1500g female will likely produce fertile healthy young.
When selecting females to breed you have to use your best judgement. A female can be 1500g and thin. She will need significant fat bodies to produce lots of eggs. A plump 1500g female can produce many more eggs than a thin 1500g female. There is evidence that snake obesity can also decrease egg fertility. Read all you can.

Brad Ratliff

Brad Ratliff

I have been breeding corns for years now but I haven't dealt with ball pythons yet and my son would like to breed it.
When probbing is it the same as with corns...won't go in far on a female and will go in far on a male??
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CD
Corns(Adults)
1.0 Snow ZigZag
1.0 Bloodred het Pewter
0.1 Banded Motley het Amel
0.1 Blizzard het Anery A
Corns(Sub-adult)
1.0 Anerythristic

Right, when probing toward the tail, girls go maybe 3 scales deep. Boys go much further.

Just google for it - there are lots of sites out there with pictures and instructions. Here is one....

http://www.pythons.com/probing.html

Good luck!
Jen