Reptile & Amphibian Forums

... between when females are cooled or go off feed and when they start thier follicular development/ovulation? Or is it pretty much a crap shoot depending on the snake?

I had a few females that went off feed in September during a freak three day cold spell but I had not planned on breeding these girls until later in the season. The males that I'd intended for them are still on the smallish side but still eating so I wanted to wait until Mid December/January when they had some more meat on their bones.

Just wondering if I should be worried that these two might absorb before I pair them up or if its too early in the game to worry about right now?

At what point to they absorb thier follicles?
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

I wonder all these things too. I have tried something new this year myself after two females didn't go last season(1 wouldnt' even look at the male) the other laid eggs the summer before and might have chose to take the year off.

This year I just started putting my male in the cages back in sept I would say just in case one is an early one and I missed it last year while I was waiting for it to cool down which in LA as you know takes forever then putting the male in. And go figure this year the girl that wouldn't look at the male went right to town this time and she also didn't go off food(yet, fingers crossed) like she did last oct.

so will this work? time will tell. I say what the hell can't hurt to try rather then miss it.
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

Tosha and Misty,

In general it's usually 2-3 months from the time I begin cooling/breeding and I first can palp small follicles. How the girls eat varies alot by individual - some of mine do not eat at all and some eat until their follicles are pretty huge or I cute them off.

I think the best way to get the timing down is to palpate your girls then you know what's going on with each individual.

Good luck,

Christy

These two kind of threw me off - I wasn't planning on dropping temps until November (hoping to pack on a couple of extra grams on everyone) and then we had the cold spell and it seems like half my collection went off feed. That was almost 3 months ago so I was hoping that I was not too late with these two. I don't feel anything palpitating them - but then again I'm a newbie I could easily be missing them - I didn't feel Jasmines follicles until she was darn near ready to ovulate. But is it true that if you can feel them then it's probably too late? Don't remember where I heard that, seems to have stuck in my head tho. Guess I should spring for an ultrasound next season.

Ironically - after I dropped temps (Nov. 1st) none of my other snakes have gone off feed - just the ones that did in September. Go figure these strange freaky creatures.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

If you feel follicles you are good to breed.

Christy

Hey Tosha,

It is not too late to breed females when you can feel their follicles. You should be able to feel the follicles months before she ovulates... that being said, you should also be able to feel those follicles getting bigger along the way.

Eric