Weird Suprise

[theturtlepond]

I bought a female ball python a few months ago. She was about 1100 grams. I was feeding her about every week and she recently stopped. When I opened her cage today I found 4 eggs. I thought that she might be gravid but I didn't know for sure. I have never put a male in with her because of her weight. The guy said she was bred to an Albino before, but he didn't metion that he tried earlier this season. Could she have held sperm since last year? Is a breif encounter with a male enough or was he pairing her and dumped her off on me because of her weight?

[A.VinczeBPs]

One copulation is enough. Yes, sperm can be held that long, but I'm leaning toward that he put a male in with her then thought because of her weight she wouldn't give eggs and sold her off.

It happens. Hope you have an incubator up and running!

[joepythons]

I bought a female ball python a few months ago. She was about 1100 grams. I was feeding her about every week and she recently stopped. When I opened her cage today I found 4 eggs. I thought that she might be gravid but I didn't know for sure. I have never put a male in with her because of her weight. The guy said she was bred to an Albino before, but he didn't metion that he tried earlier this season. Could she have held sperm since last year? Is a breif encounter with a male enough or was he pairing her and dumped her off on me because of her weight?

Yes anythings possible .Are the eggs fertile?

[bad-one]

I've never bred bps before but I have heard that they can retain sperm quite well. Although, it is common practice to continue to breed bps until they refuse males and either ovulate or reabsorb, this is simply to increase your odds of producing a viable clutch. 1 successful breeding is all it takes sometimes.

[kellysballs]

Sperm can definately be retained. Last year I had a female lay a 5 egg clutch. She was paired with a cinnamon pastel and a yellow belly. The babies hatched as pastels and normals. She was bred to a pastel the year before and she did not lay. SO....either sperm was retained or some one went willy nilly with my pairings last year. (I have interrogated every one in the house and I am leaning towards retained sperm)

[J.Vandegrift]

Nice. I wish I had your luck. Hopefully he bred her to a co dom.

I have a few normal females that I am wanting to sell but I won't quite yet just for this reason. I don't think they are going to lay this year, but it would kill me if I put in all the time and work into raising and breeding a female and then she laid a few weeks after I sold her for someone else.

[theturtlepond]

They look fertile, but I'm not sure. The incubator is working but the temps still aren't stable, so I have them in a hovabator for now. Thanks for the replies.

[seeya205]

Just candle them by using a flashlight to light them up and if you see veins then they are good eggs!

[davidnizmo]

congrats good luck with them