Artificial breeding...

[Benjy]

I am trying to fatten up my female bp for the upcoming breeding season and don't know if she is going to be up to weight by october. She just went on a three month long hunger strike (may be due to the switching of her cage) and is now back on track feeding wise. I was just wondering if you can provide the cooling period later in the year and successfully breed your ball pythons at a different period of time.

[Adam Chandler]

I just got eggs from a first time female that I started pairing up in March since she wasn't up to the proper weight last fall. I did not use a night drop in their case (although I usually do when pairing more than one female just for good measure).

You can pair up your BP's anytime of the year. Some people say they are more successful when pairing in the fall (as this is the time in the wild during the the rainy season in Africa when they start breeding).

Personally I like to start pairing the majority of my BP's in December. If I have any females that are under but close to 1500g I'll wait until spring to introduce a male.

[Benjy]

Ok... thanks a lot!

[mues155]

I just got eggs from a first time female that I started pairing up in March since she wasn't up to the proper weight last fall. I did not use a night drop in their case (although I usually do when pairing more than one female just for good measure).

You can pair up your BP's anytime of the year. Some people say they are more successful when pairing in the fall (as this is the time in the wild during the the rainy season in Africa when they start breeding).

Personally I like to start pairing the majority of my BP's in December. If I have any females that are under but close to 1500g I'll wait until spring to introduce a male.

x2
people have been successful breeding BPs at any time in the year

[boafa]

The key to breeding is folicles. Most males will deliver sperm, but if the female never porduces folicles, there will be no eggs. Females can retain sperm for months but again no folicles no eggs. Here's the key part, check monthly or bi-monthly for folicles. I have a female who will developed folicles one year in December, a year later in April and this year in june. Then i have some that will develope within the same two or three in the same momth every year. You won't be wasting your time breeding in late fall early winter, but when nothing happens because the female didn't produce, people get frustrated and stop pairing. but if you palp regularly and if your female has developed them that is the optimum time to definately pair your male with her. In short, pair often and palp the female monthly if not more. I hope this wasn't confusing

[Benjy]

thanks

[ChuckSM]

Short answer is BPs have no real season, seasons are induced by the enviroment of the house. what you keep the temp at, light at, how long you leave the lights going. I had a female hook up in march-april and just laid 9 good big eggs 2 weeks ago

[WingedWolfPsion]

Based on my experiences the past couple of years, I don't think temperature has much influence over ball python breeding, and I don't cool for breeding any longer. It only seemed to wind up producing a respiratory infection in at least one random snake, when I used to do it. Now, I get no sickness, and the fertility is the same.

I do use only natural light from windows to light my snake room. I have noticed that humidity and barometric pressure seem to be huge triggers, which makes sense.