Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bred my albino male to two females in February, March, and April (no activity before that) but only one girl laid eggs. The other girl continued eating as if she wasn't gravid and she wasn't all swollen and fat like she would be if she had eggs inside her. The problem is that in the last couple of days she's been soaking constantly in her water dish exactly like the other girl did a month ago. I've checked and she doesn't have mites and I've NEVER seen her soak in her water dish before (this is her first breeding). She's starting to look pretty fat but I'm not sure.

The last observed copulation was in early-April so my question is: is it still possible for the 2nd girl to be gravid? What's the longest amount of time that a ball python can store sperm?

Any info will help,
~kasey

A female can certainly retain viable sperm for a number of months, so I'd just keep an eye on her and hope for the best. Good luck.

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

The weather has been wacky this year, at least in the N.East (45 and 50 degree days until mid-January here in CT?), it seemed to through things off for me.

Also, it seems like alot of people are running later than usual?

Good luck w/ her...better late than never right!

I just checked her this morning and she's going into a shed cycle. I never saw an ovulation swelling (but I didn't notice it with the first girl either) so this might be her post-ovulation shed...I guess I'll know in a month!

*fingers crossed!*
~kasey

Not a Ball Python but I did have a Hypo Prairie Rattlesnake produce 3 live babies and some slugs 2 years later!

Steve Markevich

females can retain for a number of months, i wouldn't worry about that to much. usually the soonest a bp will have its p.o.s. is about 2 weeks after ovulation and they will not eat after the ov. so if she's eaten in the past couple of weeks chances are she's not prego. have you tried palpateing her? by this time if she was prego you would definately know by feeling for the eggs, hope that helps, good luck
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MikeJ-solar serpents

It is an unexplained occurrence in snakes. I do know that the vetirinary school at Colorado St, University bred a pair of rattlesnakes together, and kept a female offspring. When the snake reached maturity, she produced a clutch without ever being introduced to a male. The speculation was, that the some of her father's sperm was attached to a follicle inside the mother, and was transferred into the embryo. Remeber, that rattlesnakes do give live birth like a boa. That would be the only way for this female to become gravid. If that is possible, then I would definitely say it is possible that your girl still has viable sperm from your male after only a short period of time.

I had another one of my CB Hypos that have never been with a male produce slugs.
I been weeding out my venomous since 9/11, still have some proven breeder Mozambique Spitting Cobras, Urutus, Hypo Prairie Rattlers but I won't ship or transfer to inexperienced keepers.
The Urutus I don't know if I can part with those and still have an itch for Pakistan Russells Vipers...lol

Steve