Do BPs need to breed?

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Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

I have a male normal that's almost 6 years old and will never be breed. It doesn't affect his temperament at all, he's the sweetest, most calm snake I have and I use him for educational purposes instead of for breeding. Snake aren't like cats or dogs or mammals I should say. Even though instinctually it's all about surviving and multiplying it's not something that will make them act differently or crazy during breeding season or anything. The only affect breeding season has on snake is feeding. Some will fast/stop eating during this time.


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So, on this same topic, will females develop eggs regardless of being bred or not???? I mean, I know that chickens, ducks, and other egg laying animals will lay non-fertilized eggs, so I am just curious about un-bred female bps. I doubt that they will lay without being bred, but will they still ovulate?

They can. Most of my experience is with colubrids, so I don't know how likely BPs are to lay unfertilized eggs. In my experience a female of breeding age is more likely to have an unfertilized clutch if there are males around and she's gearing up to breed. I had a problem with one of my girls retaining unfertilized ovum last year that required surgery, and the vet said that the unfertilized ones are more likely to cause problems than fertilized in both constrictors and colubrids.

While there are instances of female ball pythons laying eggs without having bred, it doesn't happen often.

I for one am grateful these guys don't need to breed, or for that matter even really act differently if they don't breed.

Gale

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Originally Posted by LadyByrd

So, on this same topic, will females develop eggs regardless of being bred or not???? I mean, I know that chickens, ducks, and other egg laying animals will lay non-fertilized eggs, so I am just curious about un-bred female bps. I doubt that they will lay without being bred, but will they still ovulate?

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Females will begin to develop egg follicles once they are sexually mature, if a male breeds with the female the eggs will get fertilized and usually go full term, but if the female doesn't breed the follicles will be absorbed and the female won't lay any eggs. So nope they won't ovulate unless a male fertilized the eggs :) if I'm wrong on this someone please correct me.


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