I'm sure this is covered all over this site...

[WellyBelly]

...and I try not to be that person to jump to asking before looking. So I am just looking for a point in the right direction...

My situation is this...

I own and read threw a few thousand times "The Complete Ball Python". I have been addicted to this site for the past 2 months. And I have been doing nothing but talking to you guys from the forums on AIM and what have you. But I still want to make sure I am doing everything perfect.

So this year will be my first year breeding. I have a 800+ Gram Pastel Male and a 1800+ gram Normal female I want to breed. The female is in Qtine and will be for about another 3 weeks. But once she is out and has put some more weight on i'd like to get them locked up. In this time I will be working on my incubator and reading up more on that, and getting my breeding tubs ready and set up and up to temp. But is it as easy as droping them in and hoping for the best? Like lock or not. And repeat this process as long as the snakes stay healthy and happy and I see that ovarian lump indicating ovulation? That seems to be what I have read. Hope for weather fronts and make sure night drops are set. I feel like its too simple that I am overlooking something. Someone please stear me to a full link that covers this subject if I am wrong or tell me I am fine and not to worry. thanks.

[West Coast Jungle]

Getting to know your female is very important to know when she is cycling. Females need to produce follicles inorder to become gravid. If your female decides to go off feed during the winter that's a good sign she has started(or is in) her breeding cycle. Not all females will follow this but many may skip meals. Once again if you study your girls you will learn their quirks.

But don't stop reading studying. the Barkers book also has great BP breeding info as well as the Sutherlands DVD.

Best of Luck

[Inferno]

i go by adams' (8ballpythons.com) breeding calendar which can be found HERE it worked a treat last year and we had two healthy clutches