Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I expect this to be the first year that my female is adequate size to lay eggs and am wondering when to look for them. I've been cooling her and two others for the last couple of months and have not offered food until a couple of weeks ago.

Unlike my other pair, this female has refused two meal offers but appears highly active and feels heavy (though I haven't weighed her) for not having eaten in a couple of months. I've never bred pythons, but I've had hognose snakes become restless and act like this when they're searching for a nesting site to lay in. What's normal for these pythons this time of year? Thanks all! Adam

My IJ female bred at about 4 feet, laying 8 eggs.

Did your female shed? I read it would be 25 days post-shed that they lay, and mine was right on the dot. Provide her a nest box and get ready to incubate the eggs. Incubation is at 89F, higher than for hogs. Also, I don't feed mine during the breeding season nor when gravid, only after eggs are laid. Also, my female was thick enough that I could not tell she was gravid. When I got up the 25th day, I half expected to see no eggs, but there they were.

Since she is refusing, I think there is a good shot at being gravid. Be sure to provide enough heat for the eggs. Mine was a little restless, but also laid inverted a few times, another sign that they are gravid.

Good luck!
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"I'll be back at 6 if not 7. 8 the very latest but definatly no later than 9...ish...Moscow time."

I only had a few the first time my pair, with 2 hatching. Last year was 20 eggs, 18 hatched. You'll be able to see swelling in the rear third, and you can hold her with one hand while running your fingers down her belly to feel the eggs as they form. If she hasn't eaten for awhile, it will feel a bit like feces in there, but consistant shapes. There will also be some rib spreading in the last foot or so to allow the eggs to stay there.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.1 Bloods
1.1 Balls
2.2 IJ Carpets
1.0 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
2.0 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Carpondro
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC