At what point do you Give Up?

[tyharp]

Hey everyone. I need your expert advice.

I've been introducing my black pastel het pied male to my pastel pied female since November. He is 1050 grams and just over 1.5 years old. She is 1850 grams and just over 4.5 years old.

I put them together for three days and separate them for 3 days. I always witness locks but I have yet to see much in terms of egg development. I can't feel any follicles, she has not been cool seeking, and she looks the same as before they were together.

She did go off feed two months ago and just shed the other day but nothing else leads me to believe she is developing eggs.

This is my first time with breeding ball pythons so at what point do you give up and say hopefully next year? I feel like I should just stop the introductions and start bulking for next year. Any advice?

[Aercadia]

FIRST PAIRING -------------------------[4 months 5 days]---------------------------------> EGGS LAID
First pairing ---[84 days]----> Ovulation
                                Ovulation ---[13 days]----> Pre-lay Shed
                                                            Pre-lay Shed ---[30 days]----> Eggs Laid

[Tigerhawk]

Don't give up. It's easy to miss something. Just be patient, how often are you pairing them? Some take longer than others to go. They know what they need to do. She may not go for you this year. That's why you need a second female to work with, as that will increase your odds of getting eggs. Again don't give up.

[tyharp]

Thanks for responding. I've been pairing them at least once a week. I try to do every three days. I guess time will tell.

[wibihihi]

dont give up pal

i am in same position right now, waiting my female progress

[fatSNAKEs]

ditto, don't give up ... the other thing I've learned over the years is that with every season you'll have the typical up/downs. Early on, I put all my energy into a couple clutches and if things did not pan out it was tough. So it helps to have multiple projects where you're always making progress. Its like that one golf shot that keeps you coming back ... good luck.

[Tigerhawk]

You are breeding them to often. The female only needs to breed once every thirty days. That's what I do with mine and I get eggs just fine. Just be patient, check out Justin Kobylka's videos on breeding. You will learn a lot from him, it will also answer a lot of questions you may have as well.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

The process can take anywhere between 4 to 8 months, now when to give up? When you see absolutely no interest or signs that there are progress, in that case I stop the pairings and put the animal back on the schedule for the following season.

Once a week paining is over killed once a month is more like it, twice in case you don't witness a lock.