Will my female be able to breed this year ? She hasn't eaten for around 3 months.

[speedycat222]

My big girl doesn't like rats, she will take mice, but not rats. She hasn't eaten a meal in around a month, and hasn't had a rat in 3. During the 3 months she's had about 12 mice, 3 per meal.



She's 1880 grams, is not lethargic whatsoever(comes right out of the tub when I open it). I intend on dropping my temps in mid November, will my girl be okay to go for me this year ?

[ajmreptiles]

does she look thin at all? she should be kinda girthy around her mid section. Dropping temps might actually get her to feed as she might try to put on weight to prepare for breeding.

[bcr229]

Most people don't bother dropping temps any more, it just increases the risk for an RI without improving her breeding chances.

If she's in good weight for her length I would go ahead and pair her. Once she starts buiding she might be hungry enough to take rats, or a scented rat if you put one in used mouse bedding for a little while just before feeding.

[speedycat222]

does she look thin at all? she should be kinda girthy around her mid section. Dropping temps might actually get her to feed as she might try to put on weight to prepare for breeding.

I have other occupants in the same rack as her, this unfortunately isn't an option. =(


She isn't exceptionally thin, she's got a nice fat tail and seems quite plump. She isn't very long either, maybe 4.5 foot, so her 1880 grams is fairly plump.

[speedycat222]

Most people don't bother dropping temps any more, it just increases the risk for an RI without improving her breeding chances.

If she's in good weight for her length I would go ahead and pair her. Once she starts buiding she might be hungry enough to take rats, or a scented rat if you put one in used mouse bedding for a little while just before feeding.

Sorry for the silly question, but without dropping temps how do you induce breeding behavior in the animals ?


She's 1880 around 4.5-5 foot, I've been braining mice and rubbing it on her rats, but I'll try use mouse bedding. Should I use a live rat to cover in mouse bedding due to aspen sticking to a wet defrosted rodent ? Or should I use fresh killed heated on a heat pad ?

[bcr229]

Sorry for the silly question, but without dropping temps how do you induce breeding behavior in the animals ?

Put the boy in with the girl, they'll do their thing just fine w/o a temperature drop. I know some BCI breeders who don't bother either.

That said, I do have to cycle my BRB's to get them going, but ball pythons will go year-round.

She's 1880 around 4.5-5 foot, I've been braining mice and rubbing it on her rats, but I'll try use mouse bedding. Should I use a live rat to cover in mouse bedding due to aspen sticking to a wet defrosted rodent ? Or should I use fresh killed heated on a heat pad ?

If you're using f/t then warm them under a heat lamp, or put them in a plastic bag in warm water to keep the rats dry, before scenting. If she's used to taking multiple mice I'd give a small(ish) mouse first, then a scented rat weanling about the size of an adult mouse immediately after, while she's still in "hunting" mode.

I would try to convert her ASAP, a 1900+ gram gravid female is going to need a ton of mice, at least half a dozen if not more each week while building.

[speedycat222]

Put the boy in with the girl, they'll do their thing just fine w/o a temperature drop. I know some BCI breeders who don't bother either.

That said, I do have to cycle my BRB's to get them going, but ball pythons will go year-round.


If you're using f/t then warm them under a heat lamp, or put them in a plastic bag in warm water to keep the rats dry, before scenting. If she's used to taking multiple mice I'd give a small(ish) mouse first, then a scented rat weanling about the size of an adult mouse immediately after, while she's still in "hunting" mode.

I would try to convert her ASAP, a 1900+ gram gravid female is going to need a ton of mice, at least half a dozen if not more each week while building.

When not using a nightdrop to develop follicles before the first breeding, is the first breeding the point when she starts to build ?


I'll give this a try in a week or two, I've got a rat sitting in her tub now but I doubt she'll eat it over night. Thanks.

[speedycat222]

In case anyone also has a mouse eater: I got some mouse bedding at my local reptile store, put it in a small container and placed it in her tub. I waited a couple minutes and went back to check if she was sticking her head out of the hide, waiting to ambush a rodent. From there, I dropped a live small rat into the tub, she immediately took it and ate it. She also took a f/t weaned rat, so using live wasn't necessary. Next week it's on to a medium.

[grcforce327]

Your adult female's size has nothing to do with, "will she breed"! Will she develop,ovulate,and lay is another question, which won't be answered until later!

By the way,1880g is far from a "big girl"!