Update

[Jay_Bunny]

I am breeding my normal female Akina with my 100% het pied male this season. I saw what I believe to be an ovulation last week. She refused a meal last week and tonight she struck at the mouse (i'm feeding her light right now) but missed and has ignored it now for the past 20 min. I wieghed her just before feeding and she is 1941g, the biggest she's been with me. She is still bright but not as much so, so I'm hoping she's going into her pre-lay shed.

[llovelace]

Good luck

[southb]

Is this your first ball python breeding? Congrats, I also have het pied male and I decided to try getting a pied the long way lol. Keep at it and one of these days you might get to watch one hatch.

[Jay_Bunny]

This is my first time breeding ball pythons. She is staying on the warm side all the time. Is this a good thing?

[Jay_Bunny]

I just opened her tub and found her in a perfect coil! I tried to get a picture and I did but the lighting is terrible. I'm on my phone but I will try and get the picture up somehow.

[Jay_Bunny]

I just looked over a breeding guide and it said heat seeking is good but they normally do it after they shed. She is definitely not as bright as she was. The markings that are normally brown, and were a bright tan during her glow, are slowly becoming a light brown. She is a shade or two darker since her "ovulation" (if it was, she's not quite as huge now). Crossing my fingers for a shed soon!

[Jay_Bunny]

I'm getting so excited. She is staying on the warm side and is getting darker by the day. She is almost back to her normal color! I'm about to bounce off the walls. Is there any way I can tell how many eggs she'll lay? I've tried palpating before but I can't seem to feel anything.

[SatanicIntention]

Use a small snake bag or paper towel when palpating. Helps the snake slide through your hands easier.

Get the snake out of the tub gently, put her head into the tub so she starts crawling back into it. Make a C out of your hand and firmly press down on her spine with your thumb and belly with your fingers. She should flatten out after 1-2 passes. Let her crawl back into the tub slowly while hanging onto her tail. About mid-body down you will feel large shapes the consistency of stale marshmallows. If you do, those are eggs. If not, and they are smaller firmer bumps, then those are follicles and she still hasn't ovulated yet.

[Jay_Bunny]

Thanks! I will try that tonight and see what I feel. Last time I tried I definitely did not feel any hard bumps (after the possible ovulation). Should I continue to put the male with her, or just sit back and wait?

[Jay_Bunny]

I still can't seem to feel anything, just her movements. She is back to her normal color, so I'm guessing she's going to shed soon.