Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok everybody, this is my first year actually breeding Balls. My Het Carmel male, 3 years old, 1100grms, has been rotated between three normal females over the last month. This morning I noticed that there was blood smears (almost like you pricked your finger then wiped it on something to clean it off, not a lot) on the top of the White hide box.

Both the male and female were on top, curled up together, but not breeding. I have not witnessed any breeding to this point. I examined both and found dried blood remnants around the males cloaca. Not a lot, just a small amount, but noticeable. Nothing on the female. So, does this happen as part of breeding but most of the time go un-noticed? Did I notice because it was on white plastic? or is there another reason the male would bleed from his cloaca? Help??? thanks for any responses.

Tom Siegrist

I recently noticed the same thing with my pastel 50% het orange ghost male to albino female breeding. I examined her and there were traces of dried blood near her cloaca. Since there's nothing sharp in the cage, my hypothesis is that his spur could have cut her somehow during the courting process.

Just a hypothesis.

Ron

Sometimes happens, sometimes doesnt.....Some males more than others. Seems like younger males have this a little more than others.
Joe Pociask Pythons

so with that information, is it a pretty good bet that there was breeding action? I have tried to catch them in the act, but no luck....they like their privacy I guess.

Hard to say for sure, but there is a chance. Keep seperating every few days, for a few days at a time, then reintroduce. As silly as it sounds, try opening a window, misting the cage heavily and then introduce late at night when its dark. I usually catch them in the act most often in the very early morning, before the sun comes up. Good luck.

They really aren't shy breeders and they really don't "come apart" very fast. They are very slow and deliberate. I can pick up a locked pair and move them to a different cage if I wanted to. Either you are completely missing it, or they ain't doing it. They do it for hours on end, so its really hard to miss them being locked up. But stranger things have happened.

That is my fear of course. Funny thing, you read some posts, people talk about how easy, some talk about how you dont really hear too many of the negative aspects. Right now I have a Het Carmel Male and three normal females, all of breeding age and size. Have been cooled, per RDR's recipe, but no luck yet (that I have witnessed). But we have a few months left, so we shall see. Thanks for the posts.