Blood found in cage after first intro

[Adam Bittel]

So I am very read up on the subject of breeding ball pythons and decided it was time to dive into it. I have two years experience in husbandry and keeping of ball pythons and boas and am comfortable in taking care of them. How ever about 6 hours ago I introduced my 600g male pastel to my 2000g female normal and just a moment ago I checked up on them only to find trace amounts of blood, urine, and white feces trailed through the enclosure (using paper towels as substrate because it is cheap and easy to change regularly and also easy to notice occurrences like this). I'm assuming this is uncommon and I removed them immediately (at this point there has not been an observed lock). What should I do? Maybe she was too much snake for my much smaller virgin male?

Please do not hound me if I have done something irrational as I have been reading and preparing for breeding for well over a year now. I have done everything in the snakes best interest and am eager to learn more and accept any advice offered.

Thanks to all who read and comment!

[C&H Exotic Morphs]

The stuff you are calling white feces is actually Urates. And are you sure it is actual blood that you are seeing and not feces.
And from what you are describing it sounds like your female is scenting the enclosure probably trying to get the male to breed.
O and it is common for BP's to make a mess of their enclosure when they are breeding!

[Ben.L]

It's normal - the female may have been tail wagging/ scenting which leads to her dragging her bits around the tub and leaving trails. The male may well do something similar if his hemipenes are exposed.

So, it's actually a good sign

[Adam Bittel]

Very helpful, much thanks. Yes it was blood, and I understand the concept of urates being either solid or liquid based on how hydrated the snake (or any reptile is). I guess since I use paper towels instead of mulch I was more surprised at this outcome since it was unexpected. No where that I have read suggested this sort of thing would happen. Will reintroduce tomorrow maybe.

[rlditmars]

Since my daughter uses a tank, we were able to watch the whole courtship other than the actual lock. It was really quite an interactive dance. The female will wag her tail as was already posted. She would literally lift her tail at her vent like 45% or more and get her parts to come out and drag like a slug across the paper. That's where the blood comes from, like a dog in heat.

Then she usually evacuated alot of urine/urates, quite messy. After that the male would lay with his head on her back (almost like cuddling). She would inch along and he would just keep his head there sliding along her back while she moved. They would do this a while and sometimes would even kind of coil with the male laying up on top her back. They always locked when no one was watching. Modesty little devils.

They locked three times. The first was approx 26 hours, the second was 14, and the third was a marathon of 40 hours. My daughter has 6 eggs incubating and she hopes to have some Yellow Bellies late next month.

[SlitherinSisters]

Yeah the blood is somewhat normal. The first time I saw it I was really worried, but it happens. Unless it's a lot of blood I wouldn't worry.