Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a pair of BP's that i am planning on breeding this fall but just for the heck of it we put them in the same tank this morning. Later this evening we took the female out to feed her and noticed a smear of blood on the newspaper where both of them were laying. We check them both out and noticed that our male's cloaca (poop hole) was a little puffy and had looked like that was where the blood came from. Could this be a sign that the pair had locked?

Lisa

I've never noticed blood from any of my snakes after or before breeding. They will lock together for a long time when they breed. I've seen mine lock together for as long as 12 hours.

Sounds like maybe a health problem to me.

I've never had this happen with ball pythons, but I have a certain male corn snake that makes all of his women bleed, it doesn't matter who he breeds, there is alway blood in the cage and it doesn't appear to be coming from him. It hasn't been a problem for me so far. It's not a common thing but yah it can happen. Just keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get infected.

Mark

>>I have a pair of BP's that i am planning on breeding this fall but just for the heck of it we put them in the same tank this morning. Later this evening we took the female out to feed her and noticed a smear of blood on the newspaper where both of them were laying. We check them both out and noticed that our male's cloaca (poop hole) was a little puffy and had looked like that was where the blood came from. Could this be a sign that the pair had locked?
>>
>>Lisa

...yes it could be a sign that they bred. I've seen it from many differant species.
Scott J. Michaels DVM

Thanx all, just to be sure I think I will take him to the vet.