Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I have looked on the web for info and the info contradicts itself so I thought I would come to you all the experienced breeders.

I have two females that are still eating but I am pretty sure that I felt/saw one of them ovulating. Have any of you had ball pythons girls eat until actual egg laying? Or a week or two prior to egg laying?

Happy Friday!!!! Thanks for any input. Paige
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1.1 cinnamons, 1.1 pastels, .1 mojave, 1. spider, 1.1 super pastel, .3 normals, 1. lesser, .1 black pastel, .1 pinstripe .1 rosy boa, 1.1 gophers, 2.1 kids, 1. hubby and a bunch of other animals

Yup! I've had friends that have had gravid balls that eat right before laying eggs. One of them was even sure that his girl wasn't gravid and fed her one day and three days later has a batch of eggs!

Here's my expereince: I've witnessed hundredS of ovulations here over many many years and never have I seen a female accept food after ovulating.
Furthermore; I find it really iresponsible to feed a female once she has ovualted. Not only is it incredibly taxing on her already FULL body, but completely unnecessary.
Too much stress.
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www.strictlyballs.ca

Thanks for the input. One of the reasons I asked is because I had a female that ovulated (took her to a breeder and he said 100% she was ovulating) anyways I didn't feed her for 2 months and guess what she never laid eggs. So I was in essence letting the poor girl go hungry for over two months. Kind of crappy if you ask me!

So now I offer and see if they want it but if I am 99% sure I wont feed them since it is hard on them. I don't know enough about snake anatomy to know is it hard on them? I would think if their body was telling them to eat that it wouldn't be a bad thing for them to eat in moderation of course. Anyone else know enough about snake anatomy to tell me their input as well?

Thanks, I am living and learning. At least I really hope so... Paige
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1.1 cinnamons, 1.1 pastels, .1 mojave, 1. spider, 1.1 super pastel, .3 normals, 1. lesser, .1 black pastel, .1 pinstripe .1 rosy boa, 1.1 gophers, 2.1 kids, 1. hubby and a bunch of other animals

If a post ovulation Ball in the wild comes across a rodent, do you think the "Ball Python Dietary Police" are there to intervene?????? If it feels it needs the nutrition, it'll eat it! If not, it won't!

yea...anyways....
they eat what they want to.....that's why big girls that are filling up with eggs are still eating...but it might be just one large mouse...and that's it...I had a few this week...one mouse and done....the next day they'd eat again...but just one at a time....they are filling with eggs so they know they can handle no large meals.....

that's why most of my balls...all year long...will look at large rats like I am crazy....large they say?...you nuts...?....they prefer medium to smalls....LOL...spoiled brats....

...
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........JY

she didn't ovulate....she may have been creating follicles when you saw her swell up......

...create...swell
...ovulate...swell
...after prelay shed....fat all over , full of eggs...
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........JY

Jyohe,
That makes sense!!! My friend Jason had some question about it because he was saying if she ovulated where did the eggs go but that all makes sense because me, not knowing, didn't put any boys with her so it was a missed opportunity. V/R Paige
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1.1 cinnamons, 1.1 pastels, .1 mojave, 1. spider, 1.1 super pastel, .3 normals, 1. lesser, .1 black pastel, .1 pinstripe .1 rosy boa, 1.1 gophers, 2.1 kids, 1. hubby and a bunch of other animals

missed?
was she bred at all this past winter?....
you didn't miss probably if she was....
they can take from breedings...then pay moooonths later....
I have 0 eggs so far...and alot are eating yet.....and alot are not big at all...but I know most will lay somewhere between this April and September...
how's that for a time frame of laying...LOL....all year...
keep breeding....!!! till they drop
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........JY

The opportunity was not missed we have eggs on the way!
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Jason Amos

Ball Pythons
1.0 Fire Calico
2.0 Lesser Platinum
1.1 DH Genetic Stripe / Albino
1.0 BumbleBee
0.2 BumbleBee 66% Het Albino
0.1 Pastel Orange Ghost
0.1 Ivory
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0.1 Mojave
0.2 Pinstripe
0.1 Black Pastel
0.6 Pastel
0.3 Normal Females
Dogs
1.1 Staffordshire Bull Terriers

I agree she didn't ovulate back then it was about 5-6 months ago I have that female now and she just ovulated 2 weeks ago and pos today so I see no way she must have been creating
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Jason Amos

Ball Pythons
1.0 Fire Calico
2.0 Lesser Platinum
1.1 DH Genetic Stripe / Albino
1.0 BumbleBee
0.2 BumbleBee 66% Het Albino
0.1 Pastel Orange Ghost
0.1 Ivory
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0.1 Mojave
0.2 Pinstripe
0.1 Black Pastel
0.6 Pastel
0.3 Normal Females
Dogs
1.1 Staffordshire Bull Terriers