First off, let me start out by saying I'm new to breeding ball pythons. I have been breeding other snakes for many years, but decided I could no longer resist the allure of the beautiful color morphs that come with these incredibly amazing animals. they are very rewarding and a pleasure to keep. so here is my first clutch story from start to finish.

I began a few months ago trading and selling my prior collection of kingsnakes, corn and rat snakes, and venomous snakes just prior to moving to north Carolina with my then girlfriend. venomous snakes are a no no in buncombe county anyway, and felt it was time to go in a new direction. I used the money and trading to start building my collection. The first animal I got was an imported female normal. I had done my research on how difficult wild caught animals can be, but I was ready for the challenge. I was told she was gravid. When I received her, I thought she was a little smaller than I thought she should have been. She only weighed in at 1100g. She was a fat girl though!!

after I got her. she's a very grumpy snake!!

I was unsure as to how far along she was and kept looking for signs that she was getting close. I thought for sure she hadn't had her prelay shed, but I was wrong! exactly 17 days after I received her, I found this.




I candled the eggs and only 2 out of the 4 were fertile. I bet her smaller size had a lot to do with that. I put the eggs in the incubator and monitored them closely. I was very excited!! They were due to pip on the 22nd of may, give or take a few days.

on the 22nd, I noticed a nose poking out of the larger of the 2 eggs. I cut the eggs to check on the other one, but mostly because I was curious.



3 days later, I found myself at a get together with my girlfriend and her friends. what my girlfriend didn't know was that the party we were at was actually for her. I asked her to marry me! She said yes! when we got home that night, I checked the eggs and found them both out of their eggs! talk about a great night!! The babies each weighed in at 56grams each, a boy and a girl! they may be normals, but its still exciting! This is what its all about!



This is a picture of the little girl on my future wife's hand. She was as excited as I was!! look at that bling on her hand!!! (the ring is nice too)

Thanks for reading!!!