sperm plugs??

[stickyalvinroll]

so ive been doing research since this is my first year that im going to breed ball pythons. in the past when i got into this hobby i always read that females need to be at least 1500 grams and a great girth and males has to be 500 grams. but im worried about the sperm plugs part. will all males produce sperm plugs at 500 grams and a year old? what about females? is there a indicator for them as well? my females are all up to size to breed this season so are my males. are there any tips you guys can give me for a successful year? THanks!

[Dpineiro87]

Males are not always ready at 500 gm. They can be. Have You seen sperm plugs in his enclosure?

[iCandiBallPythons]

things dont always go text book I have a 3 year old male that finally has started with the females this year. Every snake is different, sometimes males will go early and sometimes not.

[joebad976]

things dont always go text book I have a 3 year old male that finally has started with the females this year. Every snake is different, sometimes males will go early and sometimes not.

and even if they do lock at an early age still no guarantee they are not shooting blanks.

[MikeM75]

I believe sperm plugs are a myth, it has been said several times, that those are not sperm plugs, but merely shed from the hemipenes.

can someone with more experience chime in, I know I have read it but I haven't began breeding quite yet, this year will be my first year. But with that being said, I think each male are going to be different, I believe someone has gone early as 450 grams and other won't go at 650 grams. i think it is male specific on when they are able to produce.

[satomi325]

I have snakes less than a year old that are less than 500g producing sperm plugs.

The 500g and 1500g for males and females respectively is just guide lines. It's not written in stone. 1000g females have successfully laid eggs. Some females are just small. Just as long as they have a good healthy body condition and are sexually mature, you can attempt to breed.

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[Dpineiro87]

i will take a pic of my males sperm plugs and posted here have to wait a couple of days until he produce some in his enclosure my males are over the 1000gm except for my butter who is 480 gms right now and seems to be ready to breed have not put him with anyone cuz he is in shed but i will let you know if he locks up with any one...

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I believe sperm plugs are a myth, it has been said several times, that those are not sperm plugs, but merely shed from the hemipenes.

Well here are the mythical sperm plugs



Also because a male produces sperm plugs does not mean he will get the job done.

While others have had success with smaller males I have never been successful with males smaller than 650 grams.