Follicle Question

I understand that the cool down period stimulates follicle growth. However is there anything else that can stimulate the process or help get them to develop follicles? And another question what if I was to cool down during the summer? I mean if the temps are right and the snakes are up to size does it make much of a differnce? I've got 2 females I'm trying to breed with a desert male. He's in an aquarium though, so it's kinda hard to cool him down. My females are in my rack so it's pretty easy to cool them down. Do male necessarily need to be cooled down? This is going to be my first season so I'm pretty excited and want to have a successful season.

Hi,

Mating is also said to stimulate follicle growth.

I never cool any of mine down intentionally at all.

That does mean I need to keep an eye on the females and palpate if I think they might be developing though.

One more thing worth mentioning purely in case you haven't heard - female deserts do not produce viable clutches so you may struggle to sell any you produce.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Mating is also said to stimulate follicle growth.

I never cool any of mine down intentionally at all.

That does mean I need to keep an eye on the females and palpate if I think they might be developing though.

One more thing worth mentioning purely in case you haven't heard - female deserts do not produce viable clutches so you may struggle to sell any you produce.

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When you say keep an eye on the females how can u tell if they are developing follicles? And yes I've heard this but I have some family that just wants pets so I do have a market for these offspring.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Mating is also said to stimulate follicle growth.

I never cool any of mine down intentionally at all.

That does mean I need to keep an eye on the females and palpate if I think they might be developing though.

One more thing worth mentioning purely in case you haven't heard - female deserts do not produce viable clutches so you may struggle to sell any you produce.

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Also I was under the impression that they only mate when there are follicles developing. So they will still mate without follicles developing? And them mating will support the growth of follicles?

I have a male I wouldn't trust in a dark rub with a garden hose. :P

I meant I pay attention to the females behaviour in terms of where in the temp range she spends most of her time and how her appetite changes throughout the year.

It also doesn't hurt to pop a male in with the female overnight every now and again as long as both are eating well and of good body condition.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Edd_138

When you say keep an eye on the females how can u tell if they are developing follicles? And yes I've heard this but I have some family that just wants pets so I do have a market for these offspring.

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I have a Pastel Tiger (Pastel, Enchi, Desert) that I will be breeding next season to my Lithium and Bumblebee. I'd like to see pics of your babies when you get them. If you haven't had the pleasure yet, mention breeding a desert on FB and you will get a text based tongue lashing for it... Breeding will help stimulate an appetite.

I also don't use any temperature changes or "cooling" cycle per say- just whatever happens naturally during the seasons to the ambient room temperature. It's my experience (and many other keepers/breeders), that introducing a male can stimulate follicular growth. Although no scientific study has been done specifically in ball pythons, another study in blood pythons demonstrated that females not housed with males had arrested follicular development, while females exposed to males had vitellogenesis and went on to ovulate/produce viable eggs. Hope this information helps.