Do females only lay after breeding

I am trying hard to think about another snake, but it's not really working... I originally got a male ball python because I had a female iguana that became egg bound and died, and I didn't want to go through that again.

So, do female ball pythons ever develop eggs / become egg bound if they never breed?

It happens but as far as I know it is very rare. Search for parthenogenesis on this forum and you will turn up some more info.

Parthenogenesis is really rare on top of ball pythons not seeming to be egg bound as often. Sure it COULD happen but it's not likely like it might be with other reptiles. Chameleons for example if you don't put a laying bin in their cage they won't have anywhere to lay and they'll just let themselves get eggbound.