Breeding Questions!

[AaronAshley]

1. So I want to start breeding my BP's, but I'm wondering....should I wait until the natural breeding season (November-March) next year, or, if I meet the proper cooling period requirements, could I breed any time of year? I heard that a snake will breed any time of year in captivity, however the odds of producing a large healthy clutch are increased with brumation. I want your opinions and stories of past experiences

2. Do you use brumation with your snakes? Why or why not? Do you find it increases your clutch size/health? Is it better or worse for your snake to experience brumation in captivity?

Thanks!!

[TessadasExotics]

Ball pythons do not brumate. The breeding season is a pretty wide range actually. Usually starting sometime between Oct and July. In captivity of course. There is no need to have a cooling period. It's no requirement. Just personal preferences. Size and age is what determines the size of the clutch. Older larger females will produce larger clutches. Normally.
Everyone has their own system. We for instance do not use belly heat. We use room ambient temps. We have started to maternal incubate last year. The incubator is now only used for emergencies. Female snakes can and do eat on eggs.
Your ball pythons will not breed when you want them to. Only when they are ready. When you stick a male in a tub with a female and she starts tail wagging and peeing all over the place..... you know she is willing, ready and able!

[SlitherinSisters]

Like it was said before, bps don't brumate. They pretty much know what time of year it is and start breeding from that. I think my snakes are confused this year because by now we usually have snow on the ground, but it was 70 some degrees today. I only let the room temps drop as they naturally do in the winter time, other than that, they have no other winter/breeding "stimulus".

[AaronAshley]

Great, thanks guys. That was very interesting!