Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, the subject line says it all. I've done well raising hatchlings, cb, ch, and a couple of pastels but I just don't seem to be able to get my adults to produce. This is so frustrating that I just want to quit. The problem is that I have a female that may not be a normal. I've always said that if you have something different, raise it, breed it, and prove it out. I firmly believe this and hate all the BS and misrepresentation that I see in the ball python ads.I was hoping to be able to prove out this girl this year but I have failed for some unknown reason.
I don't want to misrepresent her. I'd like to know if this female is a normal or not. I did not raise her up from a hatchling but put some good weight on her. She's 2000 grams. Looks similar to some of the imported axanthics which to me, only look axanthic as hatchlings. The pics I've seen of hatchlings are much different than the pics of adults. Let me know what you think.




Here she is next to a 3000 gram normal female

Here's an '03 pastel female. Same towel, same lighting, etc. just for color comparison.

The key is, stick with it. I learned this with Leucistic spitting cobras, and yes, they did eventually produce some sweet babies. Keep trying, and when breeding time comes around again, don't clean them, or pay any attention to them (good advice from JY) other than give them fresh water weekly. It really works!!

Good luck, and looks axanthic to me.

Chad

so do you feed them at all? and if not how long do you go without feeding them?

Both females in the pics are offered rats weekly. Two months ago they both went off feed within a week of each other. They were slamming everything offered through their cycling. When they shut down I was told that they were most likely getting ready to ovulate. I never saw this as I did with my salmon hypo boa. Same cycling schedule for the balls and boas. My male has been with both of them throughout their cycling and all of this year. I can see some size increase in the larger female in the right area for eggs but cannot feel anything, she tenses up and I don't want to use too much force in that area. The possible axanthic female is easy to check, no eggs, no follicles, no lumps, nada. That's why I'm so frustrated. She was not purchased from a breeder so I don't believe she's too old, infertile, etc. She was a pet, about 5 years old.

I have not bred Balls yet, but I will as soon as they're old/large enough. If they will take food, feed them small meals, and make sure they have a hot spot. They will quit feeding when they want to.

Chad

...when I was breeding BOAS through the 1990's I never bred a female that was less than 5 years old, and I usually got good clutches. Males were never less than 3 years old, and usually at least 4 years old. BP's mature at an earlier age and sometimes dramatically so, but not all specimens. But when it comes to animals we must be patient. Good things come to those who wait. By skipping this year, that female will be bigger and better able to handle her first clutch. I believe only a fairly small percentage of females that grow well DON'T go on to produce given proper preparation and cycling. So hang in there!
Scott J. Michaels DVM

That is definitely a normal ball python albeit a pretty wild morph, but then again they all are!

As you should hear from anyone who breeds animals, reptiles included, patience is key. Size is not only a requirement, but age and timing. Timing your cooling period, timing your introductions with the male ,etc. Some have the system down without truly realizing what they did. Other know exactly what they did. Record keeping helps immensely and paying attention to the environment your snake lives in. That includes the fluctuations in temperature as well as how often you take the animal out. Sometimes one event can stress an animal so much that it does not reproduce that season. I have observed this, but the discussion is beyond an email response. Ball pythons live by their own cycle and you have very limited opportunities to control that. Keep trying and documenting what you are doing and alter your husbandry if need be.

Good luck.

Hi John, hard to tell as an adult because as you said yourself, they are black/gray and white as juvies. Don't give up, I'm going on 4 years on my het for calico Brazilian Rainbows. It's frustrating, but I know one day I will turn on the light in the cage to a litter that may prove the trait and change my lifestyle "over night"! The IMG I bought from you went back on feed last week and is doing great. She's in a shed, but will post pics after she shed. Good Luck! Bill