Dangers with breeding - snake fight???

[TaylorS]

I know this sounds strange but I just saw a video on youtube with Ralph Davis - and he took out a few balls and one snake *hated* this other snake - hissed @ it etc.

I was just wondering if when pairing you ever had a snake fight or lost a snake due to them not getting along???

[RichsBallPythons]

Male and females dont fight with each other. They will scuffle as to wonder who this other snake is. Males will fight other males and in some cases is great way to get males in the breeding mode during the winter.

When a male is not interested in breeding you put him in with a male that is breeding and they will fight by raising and locking necks. I personally dont use this method but heard it works.

[mxrider42]

I have had a female fight a male before. Then I put a different male in her tub and they locked up. I even probed her just to make sure she was a female.
I also know someone who has had a male killed by a female. He introduced the male right before dark and came back the next day to find the male dead. The same female has also beaten on another male. She will not let any males near her. She pops and probes female.
Trey

[WingedWolfPsion]

I heard someone who introduced a male to a female's tub, and she grabbed and wrapped him, mistaking him for food coming. <lol>
I'm always cautious about introductions. ^_^

I've never had any female do more than shove the male around and shrug him off. Males will combat, but it's a wrestling match to see who's stronger.

[j_h_smith]

Never had a Ball do this, but I had a 6-7 ft female Dumerils Boa that I had problems getting to breed. I probed her and had her confirmed as a female by another breeder, but she would attack any male put into her enclosure. If I put her into the male's enclosure she was fine. I think she was the most territorial snake I've ever seen.

I've had to pick teeth out of the male snake twice before I figured out what her problem was.

Jim Smith

[Freakie_frog]

This was our first season seeing a pair tussle. I introduced my lesser in with a female bee. Instantly they started running laps around the tub, knocking over the water dish whipping their tails about. This went on for the better part of 3 hours. Once they calmed down they courted and locked fairly quick.

With all that said their is a difference between male x female tussle and male x male combat loads of difference.

[CritterVet]

Just today one of our females bit the male. She had been with him about a month earlier too, with no problems. Definitely not into him anymore...hopefully because she's gravid.

[West Coast Jungle]

I have a male black pastel that gets all crazy sometimes when introduced to females. He eventually calms down and locks with her. I think he just like to prove he is a badass, lol. Never had a females get crazy, just try to get away but not aggressive. I have heard of girls striking and coiling a male placed in her tub, mistaking them for a meal but its never happened to me.

[Big Gunns]

Never had a Ball do this, but I had a 6-7 ft female Dumerils Boa that I had problems getting to breed. I probed her and had her confirmed as a female by another breeder, but she would attack any male put into her enclosure. If I put her into the male's enclosure she was fine. I think she was the most territorial snake I've ever seen.

I've had to pick teeth out of the male snake twice before I figured out what her problem was.

Jim Smith

This happens a lot with Dumerils boas. It's the main reason you don't see any albino Colombians crossed with a Dumeril boa. Dumerils will eat other boas. Big Gunns knows a couple people that have tried only to wake up to nice and fat female Dumeril, and no Colombian albino in the cage.


It's rare that Balls will fight Taylor, but it does happen. Most of the time it's two males, but you can occasionally have a male and female fight.

[singingtothewheat]

CritterVet said what I was thinking immediately. Perhaps the female was gravid and not a bit interested in meeting with gentlemen callers.

I sorta felt that way too when I was gravid. lol