Ball Breeding Question-can't find an answer

[angie_85]

I have recently acquired 3 ball pythons. One male and 2 females. Here is the part that you're all going to be mad at me for: they are all housed together...lol. Ok so I got them a few months ago and they have apparntly all been housed together for a few years now, since they were all young. They are absolutely not related so I have no worries in that department, should they happen to breed. Now, I have read about the whole cooling them down and stuff before breeding them, which first of all makes no sense to me. I can not find any answers anywhere else so I have come here for some answers. Question 1: Why the whole cooling/fasting process? These snakes live pretty much on the equator, right? So why on earth do they need to be cool before breeding? I know there is a better word for it than "cooling" but I can't think of it right now. My second question is: Without the whole "cooling" process, and seeing as they have been housed together pretty much since babies, will they ever breed? They have not yet, they are all approximately 2.5-3.5 years old. I am assuming that since they have not bred so far that they will not until they are ready. I have no plans on seperating them at all. I would love to hear anyone's opinions about if you think they will breed, if they absolutely need the "cooling" and any helpful opinions. Thank you.

[Smilts]

There is good info online about brumating snakes to prepare for breeding. I believe it is about reseting there biological clock so that there body knows to get ready for breeding. A female also needs to be around 1700-1900 grams before that time to have enough weight for healthy breeding. And it isnt that people get mad about housing snakes together its that it truly is not good for them!!!

[mykee]

1. Just because the previous owner was ignorant to the husbandry of a ball pythons, does not mean you should follow suit. Separate your ball pythons. There is no excuse for keeping them together.
2. Inbreeding is very common in the ball python world and for that matter, almost any other species as well. In order to prove out a trait, inbreeding is necessary and will do not damage to potential offspring. That is a non-issue.
3. "Cooling" your ball pythons is done to mimic the rainy season of the western part of Africa. It's done to cue the animals to the breeding season.
4. Much like an old couple who have been married for fifty years, balls that are kept together often show no interest in breeding. Again, separate your ball pythons.
5. There are quite literally tens of thousands of websites dedicated at least in part to breeding ball pythons. You need to perform a better search online for information.

[Kmef07]

Much like an old couple who have been married for fifty years, balls that are kept together often show no interest in breeding

that is absolutely hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lol. im snowed in at my job and bored as hell and that just made me bust out laughing.

[citysnakes]

if you have no plans on seperating them at all then you should also have no plans for breeding them either. if youre going to ignore their basic husbandry requirements, then attempting advanced ball python keeping techniques should not be an issue for you. you should even consider giving the animals to someone who will properly care for them.

dont think im "getting mad" at you here but you come on a website asking for advice from people who are passionate about the animals that they care for and expect them to help a person who straight up ignores the basic needs of those animals with no plans on ever providing them.

the info youre looking for is a pretty popular topic and theres lots of places to get the information you cant seem to find anywhere. books, websites and many breeders will gladly help.

so i guess my helpful opinion would be to do some research on ball pythons, get some experience caring for them properly and research some more before you attempt to breed them.

good luck.

[mykee]

What Julian, said. If you're looking for someone to tell you that what you are doing is OK, and for advice without fixing what is wrong with your husbandry, you're not going to get it here. Maybe you should look elsewhere.

[angie_85]

I appreciate all of the info that has been provided. I didn't mean that I couldn't find any info on breeding them, just none on if they will actually breed when they are housed together. I had the same thoughts that they may not even get interested if they have lived their whole lives together. I came on here asking for help because many people have different opinions about all topics on here. I appreciate everyone's input and if I am convinced that they should not be housed together, I will seperate them. At this point I do not see any harm in keeping them together. I am not trying to say that anyone is wrong, I just have a different opinion. I have read many posts on other sites about this topic and I do understand people's concerns to an extent. I do understand now why they have to go through the "cooling" process. Thank you very much for that bit of information. Asside from that I have read so much on how to breed these snakes that I'm sure I will be dreaming of incubating eggs tonight I am pretty new at owning snakes, I had a corn for a few years but they are quite different from pythons so I would say that I am a beginner, this is why I am asking for advice. If I am doing something wrong, I want to understand why it is wrong. I don't want people to agree with me that anything is ok if they don't think that, I just don't understand why people are so against it. I want to be more knowledgable about the species, and I assumed that talking to people that are experienced would help. I'm not sure if anyone actually read what I wrote but my second question about breeding was:"...seeing as they have all been housed together pretty much since babies, will they ever breed?" not that i can't find info on breeding them, but will they be interested in breeding seeing as they spend all of their time together. Maybe I should have worded it better? Sorry if I have irritated anyone out there, just thought that asking questions was going to be a lot better experience than sitting here wondering and googling endlessly.

[angie_85]

I appreciate all of the info that has been provided. I didn't mean that I couldn't find any info on breeding them, just none on if they will actually breed when they are housed together. I had the same thoughts that they may not even get interested if they have lived their whole lives together. I came on here asking for help because many people have different opinions about all topics on here. I appreciate everyone's input and if I am convinced that they should not be housed together, I will seperate them. At this point I do not see any harm in keeping them together. I am not trying to say that anyone is wrong, I just have a different opinion. I have read many posts on other sites about this topic and I do understand people's concerns to an extent. I do understand now why they have to go through the "cooling" process. Thank you very much for that bit of information. Asside from that I have read so much on how to breed these snakes that I'm sure I will be dreaming of incubating eggs tonight I am pretty new at owning snakes, I had a corn for a few years but they are quite different from pythons so I would say that I am a beginner, this is why I am asking for advice. If I am doing something wrong, I want to understand why it is wrong. I want to be more knowledgable about the species, and I assumed that talking to people that are experienced would help. I'm not sure if anyone actually read what I wrote but my second question about breeding was:"...seeing as they have all been housed together pretty much since babies, will they ever breed?" not that i can't find info on breeding them, but will they be interested in breeding seeing as they spend all of their time together. Maybe I should have worded it better? Sorry if I have irritated anyone out there, just thought that asking questions was going to be a lot better experience than sitting here wondering and googling endlessly.

[Smilts]

Originally Posted by mykee

1. Just because the previous owner was ignorant to the husbandry of a ball pythons, does not mean you should follow suit. Separate your ball pythons. There is no excuse for keeping them together.
4. Much like an old couple who have been married for fifty years, balls that are kept together often show no interest in breeding. Again, separate your ball pythons.

N one is mad but you made the statement that you did not intend to seperate them ever. Mykee put forth good info here

[angie_85]

I do agree that there was a lot of good information given. I still do not plan on seperating them, unless I come across a good reason why. As of yet, I have not. I dod a ton more reading and actually founf some good information on a fish forum in a discussion about snakes. I do have more questions but am now a bit scared to ask. I don't want to have any arguments, I am doing what I think is right and just need input on the things that I think that I need to do better. I am sorry if 99% of people disagree with me. In my mind I am caring for the snakes the best I can.

[Smilts]

What would you consider a good reason ? The fact that its stressfull for solitary animals seems a fair reason. I dont mean itt as a argument but really to ask for information then disregard it as not as good as what you allready believe to be true seems silly. The snakes need to thermoregulate ther bodys they shouldnt have to fight with each other, however passivly, to get the best spots in the enclosure. They should have there own enclosure then its not a problem. Dont be scared away from asking when the answers arent what you want to hear, everyone is just trying to help you and your animals

[angie_85]

I never asked about housing them together, whether it was a good or bad idea. If I am doing something wrong by housing them together, fine but the reason I am asking questions is so that I do not make any other mistakes, right?

[siz]

It is a mistake to house them together. Sorry, I'm not trying to come off as attacking you, and nobody else here is either, we just want the best for your snakes. If you are new to the hobby, take some advice from people who are seasoned veterans, so to speak. Mykee being one of them. Personally I agree with him and Julian, especially in that if you are going to ignore their husbandry and keep 3 BPs together, maybe now is not the right time to breed them. Also if you are new to BPs, wait until you have the husbandry down pat before you take on the burden of caring for hatchlings.
Again, I'm not trying to come off rude or condescending, I really do just want your snakes to be happy and healthy, and keeping 3 together can not achieve that.
Good luck though, post some pictures of your snakes, we love to see pictures.

[citysnakes]

Originally Posted by angie_85

In my mind I am caring for the snakes the best I can.

then if youre fine with being ignorant thats cool but i really think you should research the pros and cons of keeping your animals together and then make a desicion on your own.

in the end it comes down to whats best for the animals not the keeper.

[Aaron_S]

These are some pictures of snakes that were housed together that are relatively the same size. I hope this helps you in your decision.