Just Curious

I am not sure if I've discussed this yet before on another thread, but I was just thinking about ball python tail wagging. My females always tail wag when there is a male introduced. It will sometimes even lead to peeing or pooping all over DX lol. Either way I was wondering what this behaviour REALLY indicates.

I would assume it's just letting the male know she is there, he's in her territory or I would have to guess she is letting him know with scent she is either ready or NOT ready to breed. I have seen my male also tail wag, but that's usually just because he's got sex on the brain and is for sure trying to mate with her. I am curious as to what the female's intentions are during this behaviour whether it be negative towards the male or positive.

The only time i have seen tail wagging is when i was opening the tub to a really young one. After i would lift up the hide my spiders would wag for a couple seconds.

i think i read somewhere or i saw a video saying that the females do this to spread their scent around. not 100% on that tho, so i hope someone else has somethin to say

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Originally Posted by Darkice

The only time i have seen tail wagging is when i was opening the tub to a really young one. After i would lift up the hide my spiders would wag for a couple seconds.

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Really? That's strange. First I've heard of them doing it not related to breeding. Anyone else see it when not being bred or with another ball python of opposite sex around?? I know corn snakes and other species do a tail "rattling" to warn someone off, but never heard of that happening with a ball python. Only hissing.

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Originally Posted by mpkeelee

i think i read somewhere or i saw a video saying that the females do this to spread their scent around. not 100% on that tho, so i hope someone else has somethin to say

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That would be my main guess, but I suppose I'm -mainly- curious as to if it's a "I'm ready" sign or a "Get off me!" sign. Lol.

As far as goes breeding, I've only seen tail wagging when my girls were receptive. Often they will push out their scent glands a bit, so I can easily believe that the tail wagging is meant to spread sex pheromones to help stimulate breeding responses from males.

On the other hand, tail wagging can be a sign of stress as well. Juveniles will do it quite often when they're caught off guard, as was mentioned above. I've also seen my adults tail wag for a brief second when I've abruptly opened their tubs. Some people argue that tail wagging during breeding is an indicator of stress as well, but I'm not with this group, as I haven't observed any other signs of stress in tail-wagging breeding females. Anywho, I have a good deal of fun watching tail wagging when it's not stress related, it's very interesting breeding behavior in my opinion. You should see Leo's tail wag, haha, it's much more furious.

Cheers,
-Matt

i get tail wags when my girls are NOT receptive. its a long drawn out argument i have had many times but either way it sure is crazy to see

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Originally Posted by irishanaconda

i get tail wags when my girls are NOT receptive. its a long drawn out argument i have had many times but either way it sure is crazy to see

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Haha, I swear Ball Pythons just switch things up on everyone to give hobbyists things to argue about. We think they're docile creatures, but really they're just passive aggressive.

Cheers,
-Matt

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Originally Posted by Matt K

Haha, I swear Ball Pythons just switch things up on everyone to give hobbyists things to argue about. We think they're docile creatures, but really they're just passive aggressive.

Cheers,
-Matt

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lol i agree

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Originally Posted by Matt K

As far as goes breeding, I've only seen tail wagging when my girls were receptive. Often they will push out their scent glands a bit, so I can easily believe that the tail wagging is meant to spread sex pheromones to help stimulate breeding responses from males.

On the other hand, tail wagging can be a sign of stress as well. Juveniles will do it quite often when they're caught off guard, as was mentioned above. I've also seen my adults tail wag for a brief second when I've abruptly opened their tubs. Some people argue that tail wagging during breeding is an indicator of stress as well, but I'm not with this group, as I haven't observed any other signs of stress in tail-wagging breeding females. Anywho, I have a good deal of fun watching tail wagging when it's not stress related, it's very interesting breeding behavior in my opinion. You should see Leo's tail wag, haha, it's much more furious.

Cheers,



-Matt

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Haha, oh yes...I've seen the leo tail rattling. It's loud and craaazy! I can hear it form quite a ways off and somtimes the males I have just do it randomly in the middle of the night while i try to get to sleep.

As far as ball pythons go, I have yet to see it from stress myself. Or at least when another ball python is not around/considered to be breeding behaviour. I honestly didn't know they did that when stressed, lol. I've only gotten the hisses and a strike from babies.

I myself thought maybe the tail wagging with females was a good sign too because my female would do it each and EVERY time my male would be with her and I did have a sucessful breeding even with the tail wagging. If she wasn't ready I would have thought she wouldn't allow it, but it's just something we'll never be sure about I am....sure, haha! :D

My big female used to wag her tail when feeding.

She looked just like a cat, when you dropped the mouse in, she'd start this slow back and forth, back and forth with her tail, like a cat about to pounce.

When she struck, it would stop, only to start all over again with the next mouse.

It might be a different kind of wagging that what you guys are talking about, but she did it every feeding.

Gale