Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've heard that once a female ball has a successful copulation (she becomes gravid) that she won't let another male court her. In other words, she will keep copulating until she is for sure gravid. Is this correct? It seems to make sense to me, but I wasn't sure. I keep rotating males throughout my females and they keep hooking up and copulating, which is good, but I was wondering if the females knew soon enough when they would begin ovulating, that they would not allow the males to engage with them.

Hope that makes sense!
Any help or opinions will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

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Michael
KoenigsPythons

That has not been my experience at all. My pairs will keep breeding until ovuation (maybe even beyond but I do not put them together after.

Good luck!

Christy

I have a female that last bred 5 days before ovulating. She allowed a male to court her after she ovulated, and it appeared that they were breeding... however, they were not together long enough for me to say that a female ball python will continue breeding following ovulation. If they were locked up for several hours or more, then I would say otherwise. I have other females that have been breeding periodically since early November each having bred from 6-8 times. I am continuing breeding trials even after females ovulate.

I posed the same question to the Sutherlands, and they said that the female will not breed after ovulating. Of course, this may be a general guideline rather than a rule. Perhaps the female may copulate after ovulation, but it is generally never or rarely noticed: after all, why continue breeding trials after ovulation?

I appreciate your input and advice. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll have plenty of eggs this season. Thanks again!!
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Michael
KoenigsPythons