Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, so its finally happened!! My BPs are breeding! This moment has been five years in the making, and I've done so much research...and yet....I still have questions! No dumb ones, I hope...

First of all...HOW do you get the female off the eggs? Is there any special technique to this? I've already planned on wearing gloves, because she's a hefty girl, and I'm pretty sure she could pack one helluva bite.

As for the eggs, I've recieved plenty detailed instructions as to the incubation bit...but placing them in the incubator baffles me. Should I be careful not to turn them while placing them? I know this is an issue with croc eggs...

Now, I was considering maternal incubation. I've heard the good, and the bad...what do you think? Surely the mom wouldn't eat the babies once they hatched, would she?

Just trying to be prepared...Thank you all for any advice you can offer.

-Sarah

First of all...HOW do you get the female off the eggs? Is there
any special technique to this? I've already planned on wearing
gloves, because she's a hefty girl, and I'm pretty sure she could
pack one helluva bite.

Gently place a towel over her and carefully lift her off towell and all.

As for the eggs, I've recieved plenty detailed instructions as to
the incubation bit...but placing them in the incubator baffles me.
Should I be careful not to turn them while placing them? I know
this is an issue with croc eggs...

DO NOT CHANGE THE POSITION THEY WERE LAID IN WHEN PLACING THEM IN THE INCUBATOR.

Now, I was considering maternal incubation. I've heard the
good, and the bad...what do you think? Surely the mom
wouldn't eat the babies once they hatched, would she?

Past three years have only done it in an incubator where there is controled temperature and humidity, why take a chance with maternal incubation?

No, she would not eat her hatchlings if you maternal incubate (such behavior would have been made bad evolutionary sense in the wild). Ball pythons generally don't eat snakes anyway.

I tried maternal incubation with one clutch and she loosened up at the end and paid close attention to the babies and me as I removed them. My particular female didn't strike but she was sure moving to be in position to see what I was doing.

It was nerve wracking for me and the sample size is small but so far I have 100% healthy hatch rate for maternal incubation and occasionally haven't done as well with artificial incubation (probably need better incubators and knowledge egg husbandry). Mom is in good weight going into this breeding season so I might try maternal incubation with one of the other females this year just for the heck of it.

I never had mom eat them.....
I always let mom do it!
Enjoy.....
-----
RicK Denmon

Ball Boutique,Inc.

If you have not seen the videos from the Sutherlands, I would maybe suggest getting them. They are very informative and answered alot of my questions. They also just released it on DVD. You can order on ballpython.com