I'm at my wits end

and would like some feedback/suggestions.

Winston has been one of my most anticipated breedings this year. I have two females for him. Sierra, my banded female, and Pandora, my bright yellow female.

His very first lock was with Sierra. He was slow to warm up to Pandora. I have not observed any other locks with Sierra since the first one. They curl up at opposite ends of the enclosure. I've tried buddy breeding (both females in with him) and he always chooses Pandora.

I've put him in with Sierra at the start of a weather system moving in, misted them, put him in when she's not in shed, when she is in shed. When he's in shed, when he's not in shed. I've put sperm plugs from another male on her back, I've put Pandora's shed in with them. I leave them together for three days at a time.

Last night we had a system move in and I've tried the buddy breeding again last night, this morning, it's no surprise that he's locked with Pandora again.

In your experience, is it more likely that he doesn't care for Sierra, or that she's not being receptive to him? IE, who's the problem here?

Murphy comes out of QT next week. I also have Zaphod, my Jolliff tiger. I think it's time for me to acknowledge that I'm spinning my wheels trying to pair Winston with her any longer. Maybe, if the ball gods smile on me, the only lock will result in some lemon pastels. But I'm now considering rotating both Zaphod and Murphy in with her. Since they are both young, that gives them both long breaks between breeding so as not to over stress either of them.

And it would give me a great shot at some really nice tigers with Zaphod's genetics, and her banded pattern, or a great shot at some really nice mojaves.

I'm open to suggestions, thoughts or feedback.

Could be a few different things - Maybe she isn't developing any follicles - Have you palpated her? Can you feel any? Maybe she don't like him - Maybe he don't like her...BP's are strange - Once you think you have them figured out they throw you a curve ball...Good luck -

BT

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Originally Posted by BT41042

Could be a few different things - Maybe she isn't developing any follicles - Have you palpated her? Can you feel any? Maybe she don't like him - Maybe he don't like her...BP's are strange - Once you think you have them figured out they throw you a curve ball...Good luck -

BT

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Yes, she has follicles (aka - a string of pearls) when I palpatate her. I'm thinking it's time to let some other males come up to bat! :cool:

If she has follicles - I'd put the blame on him...I wouldn't waste anymore time and I'd go with your next choice - But that's just me...

BT

I was thinking Robin (hard to believe I know) about a conversation I had with Brian Barczyk a while back and he was saying that males will breed like crazy when follicles are 10mm (which you can't really feel) and when they are 30MM - 35MM (close to ovualtion) but he said they really slack off in between...Just something to think about...IMO - If her follicles aren't golf ball size I wouldn't give up hope just yet...

BT

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BT41042

I was thinking Robin (hard to believe I know) about a conversation I had with Brian Barczyk a while back and he was saying that males will breed like crazy when follicles are 10mm (which you can't really feel) and when they are 30MM - 35MM (close to ovualtion) but he said they really slack off in between...Just something to think about...IMO - If her follicles aren't golf ball size I wouldn't give up hope just yet...

BT

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I agree with this 100% ... I generally see activity early in the season, then it slows down, and then it picks up again in late winter/early spring.

Two things ... If you're leaving them in overnight together, you're not seeing every single lock ... and, it only takes ONE copulation for a female to become gravid.

Could be that Winston is too heavy ... heavy males are horrible breeders in my experience.

-adam

Thanks Adam and BT! Adam, I remember you giving Joanna the advice about a male being too heavy when she was trying to breed Malachi last year, so I've kept him lean and athletic - even though he loves his rats! LOL

He is very enthusiastic about breeding with Pandora, although he was slow to start with her, she's "his girl" now and he locks each time they are introduced.

However, leave it to ball pythons to make you a liar - I got home today to find Pandora in her own corner and Sierra and Winston locked this afternoon (and still locked now)! :banana::banana:

I'll keep the hope alive now! LOL

And now....Pandora has plopped herself on top of both of them. Please don't break the lock, please don't break the lock, please don't break the lock!

They are in Pandora's tub, but I really don't want to disturb them more than necessary to remove her. Fingers crossed - they are still locked for the moment.

Best of luck Robin

Thanks Ed! I'm really hoping for some reduced lemons - only time will tell! :D