I'll try to make this concise as possible. This is my first season of breeding. I paired a female (~1500g) with three males this year. I started my temperature drop October 1st and introduced the males to her on November 1st. I used a heat cycle of 12 hours on and 12 hours off until February 1st. I noticed many successful locks over the cooling period, but towards the middle of January, all the magic went away and I haven't seen any locking since. Is this normal practice for ball python mating? For the first two months of the cold period, they were going at it like rabbits. I resumed regular cage temperatures February 1st. I guess what I am looking for is an experienced opinion of my chances for getting eggs this year. Any help would be appreciated!
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Breeding Question
Replies (3)
When was her last shed? They have a preovulation shed and ovulate then a postovulation shed. If the female starts seeking cool temperatures It's the next good sign. Females will often stay on the cool side of the cage and often submerge part of their body to cool down and build folicles. If you see her doing this check her daily (I check several times a day). They will usually ovulate within a week to 2 weeks from doing this. When one ovulates you'll know. Google ball python ovulation pics and you'll know what to look for. It'll look like she ate a rat that was almost too big for her. Once she ovulates you wait for her to do a prelay shed. Once she sheds you'll usually get eggs within 2 weeks of her shed. Then the long wait (52-60 days)until you have baby snakes!!!! Good luck! Chris Hall
Well, as of lately she has been in her water dish for most of the day. Perhaps this is her way of seeking a cool area. Her last shed was probably 10-15 days ago, which I thought was strange because she had just shed like 3 weeks before that. Another thing, is there any benefit of palpating for follicles?
at this point palpating for follicles is useless unless you know what you are looking for as eggs feel different than follicles. Like the other poster stated you could be expecting eggs soon, but not 2 weeks after post ovulation shed. If that last shed was indeed a post ovulation shed, expect to see your female starting to get real large towards the vent and expect eggs 25-45 days after the shed.
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Josh & Krysty Hutto
Various Ball Pythons, boas, dogs, cats, fish, a couple sulcatas and a few other odds and ends.
a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!
