Breeding Balls...

[tabastifur]

All of my pythons are reaching sexual maturity and they are growing perfectly, so it's about time I learned about breeding them.

I need a complete and thorough run-down of the do's and don't's of Ball Python Breeding.

Thanks!

Dan

[CyberGhost]

make it cold then hott then puy them together =gravid then you wait for eggs then you hatch them...KInda

[tHeGiNo]

Well I have never bred ball pythons so I would like you to take this into consideration, as you should with any information given to you online. First of all, you will obviously want to verify the sex of your ball pythons. Ball Pythons, in captivity are seasonal breeders. Most of them will stop feeding starting in October, and mate sporadically all the way through to February. Some say best results occur when numerous individuals of each sex are placed together. This is not the case for you I am guessing? Anyhow, keep the two separate when it is not breeding season, at optimal temperatures. In october, stop feeding. If only with one of each sex, I do believe best results may be achieved by introducing the two snakes, the female to the male, 2 to 3 times a week. At breeding season, put the two together in a larger tank, and leave them together until March or April (or until she appears gravid). Note I do believe larger breeders leave then together until March, whether ovulation has occurred or not? In March (or April, your decision) separate the two into their own respective enclosures. It might be a good idea to feed the girl heavily at this point in time. If she does in fact become gravid, she will refuse food. Other signs of being gravid include basking belly up and they will usually go into a shed cycle. Provide the female with a lay box consisting of a damp mixture of sphagnum based peat moss and vermiculite (I do believe this is correct, get it double checked). If eggs are laid, it is common practice to remove them from the coiled mother. At this time, place them either in an incubator (your best bet) or a separate box with the same substrate provided for the lay box. Incubate the eggs at 88-90F. That is about all I can think of right now. Again please take into consideration I hve never bred ball pythons myself, however this is information I inquired as I too plan on breeding them. I apologize, there is always something I forget to write. I am not sure EXACTLY what you should do temperature wise while breeding, so get this info off someone else. I also neglected to mention that ball pythons breed during the rainy season in Africa. Therefore, it is my guess that misting a little more often would allow them to better acknowlege breeding season. Also have your incubator READY to go before hatching. By this I mean the exact temperatures set up before hand.

[tHeGiNo]

Also, just because they are reaching sexual maturity, that does not mean she is ready to breed. Please take the well-being of your snakes into consideration and place this more importantly then the money made off the hatchlings. I am not suggesting this is the type of person you are, however just bringing up the topic. Make sure they are of the appropriate size and weight before considering breeding.