Another abstract question. I've heard that ball pythons can remain locked up for several hours. The 7 previous "interactions" with my male & female have all been in the 6 to 12 hour range. Yesterday evening I placed the two of them together and at 6:00am they were locked up. At 1:30pm locked up. when I got home from work at 11:30pm- locked up. And now at 2:07am, you guessed it, locked up. We're talking over 20 hours. I guess what I am asking is, is this multiple lock ups, or should I be selling their offspring as a new designer morph of tantric ball pythons? (We could call them Stings.)
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Lock-up question
4ktung
Feb 20, 2008 01:32 AM
Replies (4)
brhaco
Feb 20, 2008 07:27 AM
What are you feeding him-I'd like to try some myself! 
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Brad Chambers
The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....
lavenderalbino
Feb 20, 2008 08:18 AM
Balls can routinely remain locked up for 12-36 hours. There is a physiologic reason that balls lock up for so long during copulation (aside from the fact that they may enjoy it)that is really interesting and that many people are not aware of. The transfer of sperm from the male to the female does not happen in balls the same way that it does in humans and other mammals. In pythons, the hemipenes are just an appendage that is everted just like turning a sock inside out until it protrudes from the male. Sperm are not ejaculated from this appendage as most people suspect. Rather when the hemepenes are extended into the cloacal region of female, the male deposits sperm onto the surface of the hemepenes from an opening of the ductus deferens located at the base of the hemepenes. The sperm then must "swim" along the surface of the hemepenes and eventually into the females oviducts, then swim about half her body length to the infindibulm of the oviducts where they wait for ova to be ovulated. So a "slam bam thank you Madam" approach won't work in balls and they must remain locked up sufficiently long to allow the sperm to at least complete the journey along the length of the hemipenes to the opening of the oviducts.
Hope this info helps
Grant Whitmer
JBrant
Feb 20, 2008 10:47 AM
Great explanation Grant!!!
alicecobb
Feb 21, 2008 04:03 AM
I agree! Learned something new again today.
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Alice Cobb
Florida Reptile Room
