Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My ball pythons continue to lock up now and then but nothing else happends. they have been locking up since late december. am I suppose to wait fot her to ovulate? should I continue to introduce the male in with the female? what should I do or not do?

Keep introducing him to her until you see sure signs of ovulation. 3 days on and 4 off will be fine.
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I agree with the above post. Keep putting them together. I keep putting them together until Feb.-March then I start warming their cages. It seems like after I start warming their containers, then they OV. But I also start warming their cages after I stop seeing the majority tie. They all OV at different times, depends on the snake, but usually the female won't let the male breed her if the deed is done. So I go with, "why are the male and female in seperate corners? Oh, I get it, I better watch for the big OV." I might try one more time in a week or so, but usually they are done. Even then though, it takes awhile for visuals on the OV.
If the female isn't eating, but is still shedding, then I think she is growing folicles, and will shed again. I usually go through 3-4 sheds, the last being the pre-egg lay shed. She should have OV a week or so before this last shed. I sometimes miss the OV, but the last shed seems to be long. Like she is in the blue for two weeks. It may not be that long, but I am pretty sure that last shed is longer in time than the previous ones.
Hope this helps, but not all snakes are the same. I have had some not shed during the whole process, until that pre-egg lay one. If they are stilling doing the deed though, I would keep trying. Maybe they are just practicing so they get it right next year!!