Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can anyone tell me how to trigger ovulation in ball pythons. Is it temperature (high or low), light, humidity, It seems I can't get my females to ovulate or develop follicles.

Chris van Kalken
The Netherlands

We lower our temps starting September 1. We also change our light cycle, turning them off at 9 pm and on at 11 am by Nov 1.

Our ambient room temp at night during the cooling period peaks at 70 F. With a supplimental heat at night of 82 (this is something I changed this year courtesy of wise Ralph Davis) I used to turn my heat off completely, front and back.

Starting on Feb 14th (Valentines Day) I start to do a gratual warm-up that goes back to regular heat 24/7 March 15. My regular heat is 86 Ambient and 92 - 95 F hot spot.

I also start introducing males with my females in October. I really don't think this serves any purpose in actually fertilizing females. There is plenty of time for that later, but I do think it triggers the female to release and grow her folicles. If she feels that there is NOT a male present then she might not exert her energy to do so.

I also feel that the critical months for breeding, in our program anyway, is January and February.

This year my females are ovulating earlier than in the past. 9 girls are getting ready to lay shortly with many more showing signs of building.

Hope this all helps.

MJ

Markus Jayne Ball Pythons

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Thanks for replying Markus.
I have 3 adult females here and an adult ringer male. He bred them all 3 starting august last year already. Breeding went on untill more than a month ago. But every now and then he still tries breeding the girls. All 3 females show no signs of developping follicles, nothing found on palpation too. I use basicly the method Ralph is using. But no follicles untill now, I am wondering if I do something wrong here, lol. I now transfered them from the rack to a bulb-heated cage to see if more light will trigger ovulation in them.

Chris van kalken
The Netherlands

How high is your humidity?
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Hi Marcus,

Humidity has been low all the time. Now that I put them in a warmer, lighter cage, I will increase humidity a bit.
Hope it works.

Chris van Kalken
The Netheralnds