how can you tell

[toe_knee]

when the female is developing follicles???

[SatanicIntention]

She's crabby and demands chocolate.

Other than that, I really don't know signs. I recently watched one of mine get palpated for follicles(she had about 15 or so). You can also ultrasound them and see what size the follicles are at(optimum breeding time).

[Uncle Festae]

Feel them....

[joepythons]

Feel them....

My fingers must have no feelings left in them then as i have never felt eggs nor follicles .I wait until i discover the female wrapped around some eggs

[Uncle Festae]

My fingers must have no feelings left in them then as i have never felt eggs nor follicles .I wait until i discover the female wrapped around some eggs

I guess that works too LOL They are easy to feel though if you want to. Im a freak like that, I want to know exactly whats going on at all times, I dont like surprises......Unless of course its an odds-smashing clutch, kind of surprise those will always be welcome here

[dr del]

"She's crabby and demands chocolate."


rotfwl




dr del

[Rapture]

My fingers must have no feelings left in them then as i have never felt eggs nor follicles .I wait until i discover the female wrapped around some eggs

I could definately tell when my female was gravid last year and when the eggs started moving closer to the end of her tail... looked like she was going to burst. She was a small girl though.

[Adam_Wysocki]

They are easy to feel though if you want to. Im a freak like that, I want to know exactly whats going on at all times, I dont like surprises.

ROCK ON Brother! The ability to successfully and reliably palpate female ball pythons is the single most beneficial skill a breeder can (and in my opinion must) develop in order to breed with maximum efficiency. Fully developed follicles are extremely easy to feel ... they are like extra large marbles inside of your female ... and an indicator that ovulation is right around the corner.

Smaller peas sized follicles let you know that your female is receptive to the males breedings and ready to eventually lay eggs, but needs more time with the male to get r done.

Tracking the development of the follicles over the course of your breeding season helps you keep track of who is going to go, who needs some extra helps, and when you can rest your males to avoid burning them out.

For the average hobbyist breeder, it's not as important ... for small collections and people just breeding for fun, it's exciting to just be surprised by finding a clutch of eggs one day ... but for people breeding as an investment, it makes the difference between skillfully being "in tune" with your animals and just "praying" that you'll "get lucky".

Palpate, palpate, palpate!!!

-adam

[recycling goddess]

wow, thanks adam!!!

[JASBALLS]

ROCK ON Brother! The ability to successfully and reliably palpate female ball pythons is the single most beneficial skill a breeder can (and in my opinion must) develop in order to breed with maximum efficiency. Fully developed follicles are extremely easy to feel ... they are like extra large marbles inside of your female ... and an indicator that ovulation is right around the corner.

Smaller peas sized follicles let you know that your female is receptive to the males breedings and ready to eventually lay eggs, but needs more time with the male to get r done.

Tracking the development of the follicles over the course of your breeding season helps you keep track of who is going to go, who needs some extra helps, and when you can rest your males to avoid burning them out.

For the average hobbyist breeder, it's not as important ... for small collections and people just breeding for fun, it's exciting to just be surprised by finding a clutch of eggs one day ... but for people breeding as an investment, it makes the difference between skillfully being "in tune" with your animals and just "praying" that you'll "get lucky".

Palpate, palpate, palpate!!!

-adam

And once you get good at it you can tell if there are any slugs! I did that last year..