Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If a female still copulates repeatedly. Does it normally mean she hasn't ovulated yet? Or, is it just the way it occurs. They breed because the like to breed? Can you help me understand this.

I would say no. My experience and from what I've heard is the male will show no interest after ovulation. So if they continue to lock up I would let them. Just be sure to give them a break for few days and offer food in between locks. As for her, if theres folicular development she could still ovulate. Many breeders will have clutches a few months apart even though their snakes have gone through the same "cycling" period. Has she shown any signs of cooling her body, wrapping around or getting in her water bowl?

Yes, as a matter of fact she does get in her water bowl. Its my first breeding balls, so I dont know the ropes completely. All four of my large females have locked up at least a dozen times that I have seen. Almost daily for the past week. I do give them breaks. How is it that you know when they are producing folicles? At what point does that miraculous lump appear assuring you of success. Thanks for answering my thread. Jesse Garcia King Ranch.

Yes, as a matter of fact she does get in her water bowl. Its my first breeding balls, so I dont know the ropes completely. All four of my large females have locked up at least a dozen times that I have seen. Almost daily for the past week. I do give them breaks. How is it that you know when they are producing folicles? At what point does that miraculous lump appear assuring you of success. Thanks for answering my thread. Jesse Garcia King Ranch.

How big are your girls? This is only my second year myself so I'm pretty new to it also, but I've bought the books and videos and researched it hard for a little over a year before I attempted. Last year I only had 1 large female (7eggs). This year I have 4 that are up to size and only 1 has ovulated so far but 1 other is producing folicles. The one that has ovulated spent most of her time on the cool side in her water bowl before ovulation and then after ovulation she would constantly go from her water bowl straight to her basking spot until she had her prelay shed.Now she spends most of her time on her basking spot. The one that has folicles is starting to stay on the cool side now. Remember that they will shed before ovulation and after ovulation. The time between preovulation shed and ovulation is when you should be able to feel folicular development through palpation. Palpation is not something thats easy to do and takes alot of practice, but you run your thumb or index finger along the snakes belly to feel for folicles (they feel like large peas attatched to their spine). I recommend you do your research before attempting this though.Again I'm no expert so continue to read and do research and soon you'll have little heads pipping from your incubator. Good Luck!!
Chris

Thanks Chris, I have recently been reading as many texts as I can get my hands on . Im sure we will all continue to do better and prosper from each other . Once again Thanks A Bunch!!