They did it!

[Leda]

Well! We dimmed the lights, lit some scented candles, put on some Barry White...And then it happened.

Yes. Everything happened. Minus the candles, and Barry white.


We introduced my Pastel Ball Python, to my significant others
Blushed-Ball Python, and they instantly hit it off.

It was so neat to see them interact and take interest to each other so quickly. My male is smaller than the female, so I was a nervous wreck about letting them crawl together, or interact physically.

After a day or two of on and off introductions, we let them spend the night together in the females tank.

The next morning, we went to go check up on them, they were in a perfect lock, and were mating.

I don't know how long the mating process is supposed to go on for, but it's been almost a day that they've been locked.

Right now, since it's night time, they're both crawling about, and are interested in the tank lid, more than anything else. As usual.

It was great seeing the two of them together. They slept together in the same hide. It was cute.


As far as reproduction goes, what are the chances of her becoming pregnant?

I've noticed a lot of people take the eggs out once they've been laid. Is that done for any particular reason? The only reason I've noticed, is to weigh them, check their fertility, etc. Also, I've noticed a lot of mass-producers do it most of all.

If she were to reproduce and lay eggs, would it be alright to leave them in the tank with her?

I understand getting them away from her is a tricky process.

She's quite big, so I wouldn't want to make her angry.

[blackcrystal22]

Most people prefer the safety of incubating the eggs themselves.

Allowing her to incubate is entirely possible. You have to mist consistently every day though.

You may get bit once or twice, but thats a known risk with breeding. :]

[Leda]

Thanks for the information.


Though what can I expect, with them mating and all.


What are the chances of her becoming pregnant?

[Chuck]

How big are they and how old ?

[SnakieMom]

I really don't want to come off as rude or anything, but did you actually plan all this?
Because it kinda sounds like you just decided to throw two snakes
together on a spur-of-the-moment whim...

[rabernet]

You keep pairing them until you see an ovulation. I started breeding Echo last year to Oliver in early October. She didn't ovulate until the middle of March.

As for maternal incubation - once you see the female after she laid the eggs, you really aren't going to want to let her incubate. They look so incredibly emaciated, that it's shocking (or it was to me). They will not feed while they are incubating - I'd much rather not leave my eggs in a tank (they're not even in a tub) and hope for the best. I'd rather have them artificially incubate where I know the temps are perfect all the time. And I'd rather give my female a rest and start getting her feeding again.

[Leda]

No. It wasn't on whim.

We have one ball python that has had her sex determined by a vet, and one ball python that has not. We wanted to breed them both for a very long time because they seem to have striking features. We decided to "pop" the unsexed one, and found out he's indeed a male. So we introduced them on and off, and let them be around each other for a while here and there, and saw they were very docile and gentle to one another, then decided to let them spend a bit of time together in the females tank. They got very comfortable, and fell asleep together in her hide.

We woke up the next morning and they were mating.

So no, it wasn't on whim, it's something we wanted to do for a very long time.

Also, the female is about 5 years old, and the male is almost three.

[mooingtricycle]

Did you get a weight on the female?

The most general Accepted minimum breeding weight for many people i see is 1200 grams. 1500 is more widely used for first time moms, but also Age is an important factor as well. ( im glad that she is 5 years old, it sounds like she should be ready)

If your mom to be is 1200+ i wish you well and luck with a chance at eggs!
Be prepared to house all those babies individually.

If mom is less than 1200, i would be extremely careful. While ive seen personally a 900+ gram female lay viable eggs * my own, and it was completely unexpected, and unintentional*, i TRULY would not recommend breeding at any less than 1200.

[Leda]

Thanks for the information.

I'll have to toss her on a scale and see what's up.