ball python breeding question

[never25]

hey everybody
so i have been lookimg around on the internet and have been seeing many different methods for breeding ball pythons. i am getting ready to cool them down and was wondering, am i supposed to be feeding through the winter? also i have them in the same room as the corn snakes and they need to be pretty cold, how cold can i let the bps be on a daily basis?
thanks for the help

[Michael Roth]

I typed 'breeding ball pythons' into google, and this was the first hit:

Markus Jayne, Ball pythons | ballpython.ca (http://www.ballpython.ca/gallery/breeding.html)

And don't feed them while cooling.

[never25]

thanks i just wanted to be sure that is what someone with experience would suggest

[mykee]

DEFINITELY feed them while cooling! What terrible advice! The females need to get their weight up to be able to give wholly 30% or more of their total weight to eggs, and males need to eat as they're the ones doing all the work during the breeding season.
At night (or "12 off"), never let the temps go below 80 or so. You'll end up with a whole lotta RI's if you do.

[citysnakes]

ball pythons dont need to be severely cooled to the point that it is unsafe to feed them. day time temperatures should stay pretty close to what they are supposed to be and a natural room temperature drop during the night combined with a few degree drop in the basking area works for me.

i feed all my balls during this time up until the males decide to fast and the females ovulate. to play it safe offer relatively smaller rodents but generally they all will accept meals with no digestion issues.

Edit: ...Mykee beat me to it...listen to him!

[never25]

thanks mykee
thats what i thought but just wanted to be sure

[Michael Roth]

thank you for the correction/education