Maternal or Incubation?

So I read the sticky on maternal hatching, had assumed most use incubation. Which method do you do? Why, and what are the pros/cons to each way. Incubation seems a safe route, but wouldn't maternal be easier and more natural? I am a ways off from breeding yet, and just collecting thoughts for now. Thanks

I use artificial incubation for two reasons. One, I cannot provide proper humidity or nearly as precise temps in a tub for the eggs to incubate with the mother. Two, I do not want my females to stay off feed for additional weeks or months while incubating their clutch. They lose easily 25% of their body weight when they drop eggs, so I want them regaining that weight as soon as possible (for their health, not just for the following breeding season).

Artificial

Why? Because I try to put all the chances on my side when it comes to hatching eggs.

It's a lot easier to provide proper temps and humidity in a control environment such as an incubator especially when you have multiple clutches each year.

It's a stress free solution for me that also allows my female to get back to shape a lot faster.

Consider this. In the wild ball pythons obviouslly do it themselves. But how do we know what the success rate is? Obviouslly they do a pretty good job or else they would be extinct. There is also more ball pythons in the wild so the percentages are good. In the wild if some clutches dont hatch for whayever reason no big deal. In a captive collection if a few fail then its a big deal. So by incubating you stack the odds in your favor. Now ball pythons have the ability to regulate body temperature. This enables them to be very good mothers and can overcome some temp swings. But when you incubate you dont have to worry about it if your incubator is working right. So it all comes down to stacking the odds in your favor for a succesful outcome. Some people allow the females to maternally incubate and they have good success. Jm not saying not to do it but at the end of the day you have better chances doing artificial incubation

Percentages may be good with maternal incubation, but with artificial incubation, they're maximized.
The females get to eat within a couple of days of laying their eggs, and the eggs get the best chance of hatching into healthy, strong babies. I would be a nervous wreck, trying to keep the humidity up in a bin.

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Originally Posted by snake lab

Consider this. In the wild ball pythons obviouslly do it themselves. But how do we know what the success rate is? Obviouslly they do a pretty good job or else they would be extinct. There is also more ball pythons in the wild so the percentages are good. In the wild if some clutches dont hatch for whayever reason no big deal. In a captive collection if a few fail then its a big deal. So by incubating you stack the odds in your favor. Now ball pythons have the ability to regulate body temperature. This enables them to be very good mothers and can overcome some temp swings. But when you incubate you dont have to worry about it if your incubator is working right. So it all comes down to stacking the odds in your favor for a succesful outcome. Some people allow the females to maternally incubate and they have good success. Jm not saying not to do it but at the end of the day you have better chances doing artificial incubation

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To to clarify on your statement, BPs can regulate body (and therefore egg) temp by adjusting their location along a temperature gradient, leaving the eggs to bask and return, or lifting and lowering the eggs over a hot spot. Without the proper heat being provided, BPs cannot achieve temps on their own (like all reptiles). I'm assuming these actions were what you were referring to, but I didn't want anyone to be confused.

When I start breeding, I will be doing artificial, simply because I am a control freak. Not to mention, I have a hard time keeping humidity correct for successful sheds (this time of year....winter sucks!) in tubs, I'd be pulling my hair out worrying about it for maternal incubation. I'd just like to have an incubator set up perfectly for eggs, put the eggs in and not worry about it. As far as being more natural, it would be to let momma do it, but I keep my balls in plastic storage containers on newspaper, natural isn't really my priority.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

As far as being more natural, it would be to let momma do it, but I keep my balls in plastic storage containers on newspaper, natural isn't really my priority.

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:gj:

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

, but wouldn't maternal be easier and more natural?

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LGray said it...there's nothing "natural" about keeping our snakes to begin with, so why should we take that into consideration when it comes to incubating eggs.

While maternal incubation is more natural, it's also natural for a percentage of the eggs to be lost that way.

I would not want to take a chance on a Killer Clown Hypo Super King Pin Pied 100% Het for Albino being one of the ones that was naturally lost...;)

Thanks all, I had originally thought incubator. But then I read that thread, and thought well maybe I should do some research. Sounds like majority incubates, so will stick with that.