Breeding Ball Pythons - Some things to consider...

great post Jamie. and i really agree with the time aspect it does take time. and my wife yells at me because i'm in there room for about 1 hour every day just checking and watering then the weekly cleaning not to mention feeding then double checking to make sure they have eaten. so with the small group i have i still spend 10 hours a week at least

I find that I am spending about 6 hours a day with my new pets, at the MINIMUM and I'm not even breeding. I take great pains in making sure the cages are spotless and that everything is EXACTLY the way things need to be. I have seen a HUGE difference in my snakes' behavior as well just in the few days I've had them. They are much more active, their scales seem to have more of a luster and they are just all around more content, at least in appearance. As with anything else in life, you'll only get out of your snake what you put into it in terms of care and wellbeing.
Excellent post Jamie. Ya know, when I first brought these snakes home I had no intentions of breeding them, but after seeing all the breeding posts and pics of clutches being born, I am finding myself wondering what it would be like to take on this awesome responsibility as well. We'll see how things go.

Such a fabulous post.

I have learned some HARD lessons.

We got snakes with mites. We had to treat ten animals, bug bomb our snake room, clean everything over and over... spend a small fortune on mite treatments, and take our aggressive one to a vet and pay to get her treated since she would bite us if we tried to demite her ourselves.

We got snakes with RIs that we couldn't yet see. We stupidly put one of them in with a few others. One snake died... even after several hundred dollars in vet bills.

I learned who to get snake froms (Thanks 8-ball, and other great breeders!!) and who NOT to get snakes from (idiots) and how to house and quarantine and care for our animals.

Now, we're ready to get started breeding!

Above all we love our snakes. They are pets. Every single one is loved and handled and admired for his/her quirks and unique look and personality. I want my snakes to go to loving homes- not people who will grow bored of them and give them up. Maybe it's because I come from the world of dogs, where any good breeder makes sure any new home is committed, for life- to be or find the best home possible for the dog. We have found pet homes for snakes we cannot breed, so that we can keep giving all of our snakes the love and attention we think they deserve. A snake bought as a pet/companion could live twenty years, and it deserves not to be disposed of when a new girlfriend or boyfriend fears it, or a baby arrives, or whatever other excuses there are.

We have our first pet male- he'll be eight years old in June!

Anyway, I think all of the points made in this thread are worth really understanding. If you can't afford them, hold off. Adopt one from a reliable herp rescuer or buy one pet from a reputable breeder, and learn from other peoples' mistakes and losses! (like mine!)

What a wonderful post.

I don't think I can ever read that post enough and still wonder if I'm ready. So many things in that post need to be spread around on all of the forums and maybe on KS or CL too, maybe it would help a little.

I definitely agree with the vet bills and the time part. I've been fortunate not to have had any husbandry problems with either of my balls but I've got a fund saved up just in case I should have to.

Thank you again for sharing this post with us,
JoAnne

The rodent issue is a big one, not everyone realizes how much work they are, and the healthier the rodents the healthier the snakes.
I used to breed Syrian hamsters so the snakes for me are easier and I might actually at least break even with them.
Also corn snake hatchling season is a busy time every year in the lab, its a crazy time, its rewarding to see them hatch out and the different colors especially when I was going to school and in the lab 14-20+ hours a week but its crazy. And cleaning constantly, then you go to put the box back and spill the water and have to clean it again. With any snake,even if you can handle the adults the rest of year, hatchling season will test your sanity. I love hatchling season, but then again I don't have much sanity to test in the first place. I can't wait to have my own babies.

Hey guys really liked your post alot but i did want to ask you a question. I kinda had the feeling you are talking about breeding multiple snakes at multiple times. What happens when if i just wanted to breed one snake is it still a big hassle. I mean is it easier thanks alot

awesome post!:gj: When i help people get into snakes that want one they tend to not believe a 14 year old kid when they say how much commitment it takes.

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Originally Posted by SPJ

This part is often overlooked. I spent almost $600 between vet visits and lab work recently and that was on ONE snake.
There are many extra expenses you may not think of and when you have a bunch of babies, it can get get very costly. Don't fool yourself thinking breeding is a quick money making thing.

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Do you mind listing some of those extra expenses?

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Originally Posted by jzoot3d

Do you mind listing some of those extra expenses?

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I'm not a breeder, just a pet owner and this week I spent money on:

1.) A new heat pad when one just stopped heating up for some reason.
2.) A new scale, same thing, the old one stopped working.

I still have the old Reptitherm thermostats that I really need to replace with a more reliable one. Just saving up some money to afford the herpstat. It would be super bad if those break on me.

Last year my house got hit by lightning and I had to buy new stuff for the vivariums.

A few months ago the supply store that sold rat food moved to a different location so they couldn't order the rat food for a while (they don't stock rat food, it's all special order). I had to buy rat food from Petco for 4 times the regular amount.

So yeah, I can see how a breeder that's doing this as a business will have to have money on hand to cover these types of expenses.

As a aspiring breeder I find this post very educational. I've a friend who got more than he could handle and lost his passion. So posts like this really does help someone on the outside looking in. I'm glad I found this forum because it seems like a group of good people here. Thanks for the good advice.

I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE THINGS ABOUT REPTILES :) :snake:

ok i have a brief understanding of what it takes to breed ball pythons. But my question is if you create a website to sell your animals on there, do u have to get certified in order to do so, and how would you go about getting certified ?

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Originally Posted by ZiggyTheBall

ok i have a brief understanding of what it takes to breed ball pythons. But my question is if you create a website to sell your animals on there, do u have to get certified in order to do so, and how would you go about getting certified ?

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No but to ship them most people use fedex and you have to become certified to do that.

Nice post dude..
all the consideration was there..

and the trend of necromancy on bp.net continues..

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

and the trend of necromancy on bp.net continues..

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It means people are using the search function.

Weren't there complaints because that wasn't happening? :rolleyes:

Would someone who has a good deal of experience with breeding mind PMing me, perhaps?

Hi, I have wanted to breed ball pythons for a while now and hopefully will start next season. Can anyone tell me how I could find a vet that takes care of reptiles in my area. I don't know what they would be called or how to search for one. Also, after reading so many pages on how to breed ball pythons its gets a little confusing because each page is different. Some people do this as others do that and I don't know what I should go by when I start. Is there anyway someone could recommend a good thread to me that will go over EVERYTHING about breeding ball pythons from raising them to ideal size to breeding process to incubation to hatchling tub setup. that has worked for you? It just gets to be too much when I read about how one person breeds (and how I am, if I like something I learn as much as possible from many people) then read about how another person breeds.


Thanks, Hope im not asking too much lol

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Originally Posted by Dillonjacob01

Hi, I have wanted to breed ball pythons for a while now and hopefully will start next season. Can anyone tell me how I could find a vet that takes care of reptiles in my area. I don't know what they would be called or how to search for one. Also, after reading so many pages on how to breed ball pythons its gets a little confusing because each page is different. Some people do this as others do that and I don't know what I should go by when I start. Is there anyway someone could recommend a good thread to me that will go over EVERYTHING about breeding ball pythons from raising them to ideal size to breeding process to incubation to hatchling tub setup. that has worked for you? It just gets to be too much when I read about how one person breeds (and how I am, if I like something I learn as much as possible from many people) then read about how another person breeds.


Thanks, Hope im not asking too much lol

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You'll do best to post a new thread when you have multiple questions. As for vets: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...d-Exotics-Vets

Regarding breeding, every page is defferent because no one does it exactly the same way. You will need to read, compare, and make your own decisions as to what works for you. A VERY good start is to read and reread the "Sticky Threads" at the top of each forum category. There are also books and links recommended under multiple threads in the "BP Breeding" forum.

In KY Do you need any permits or licenses or anything to breed, handle, show, and sell Ball Pythons? Or do you know where I would call to find out?

So informative

Iv been thinking about starting my own ball python breeding project after keeping reptiles for going on 6 years now, this post was excellent and gave me some great advise and insight into things to come, I'm going out on Friday two buy myself two yellow bellys to start my project from my local exotics centre, now I would like to ask a question after reading all this, obviously time is a key factor among many others and I understand that breeding is a hobby to us all who are passionate about our reptile and animals alike, my main concern is not yet but when my collection is larger, is it possible to keep a full time job and breeding or would I be better to drop to part time hours or quit my job entirely? Thanks in advance for any light on the subject

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Originally Posted by ekansnakekans

Iv been thinking about starting my own ball python breeding project after keeping reptiles for going on 6 years now, this post was excellent and gave me some great advise and insight into things to come, I'm going out on Friday two buy myself two yellow bellys to start my project from my local exotics centre, now I would like to ask a question after reading all this, obviously time is a key factor among many others and I understand that breeding is a hobby to us all who are passionate about our reptile and animals alike, my main concern is not yet but when my collection is larger, is it possible to keep a full time job and breeding or would I be better to drop to part time hours or quit my job entirely? Thanks in advance for any light on the subject

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Unless you are breeding a a huge scale (like hundreds and hundreds of animals), you're going to still be working full time. Most of the hobbiest breeders have full time jobs. There are only a handful out of the thousands of breeders out there, that do THIS full time.

Right no worries thank you very much for your help

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Best hobby ever!
Will never do this for the money, I'm happy if it pays the expenses and allows for a new snake every now and then:)

Great post.. I think time is the most important part of the hobby also.. That's what is keeping me from breeding. I only keep the amount of snakes I know I have time for, which is two.

So can you tell me how to breed ball pythons without cooling? With details? So this is what I have collected: you feed the female as much as she wants, and then you stop feeding for 3 weeks so she can clean out her body, and then you put them together in a big container with paper towels and look for lock ups. Then you let them rest for a couple of days and then put them back together just to make sure. Then you wait and the female should get bigger and bigger and a few months later you should get eggs and you get them in the incubator. Plz correct me and tell me if im right.

Never heard of the stopping feeding to clear out her body part?

That was a great post, That should be a sticky, not for just snake breeding, but for any animal breeding program. I bred bloodhounds , for 20 years and you are right. If you do it right it might offset your hobby, but you don't get rich. I bred because i loved the breed and i asure you it was a lot of work. My husband and i shared the work and it was like having second full time jobs. The vet bills were astronomical because every pup healthy or not had at least 3 visits and litters were 10- 12 pups. i wish everyone who wanted to breed any animal could read your post. Do i regret my breeding years, no never, I would do it all over again, The biggest problem i have with many breeders today is they don't know when to retire. When it becomes a chore, and you can't take as good a care of your animals, its time to hang it up.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

I despise keeping records. Its my least favorite part!

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That is so weird I absolutely love keeping records. I love seeing how much they have grown and how well they are eating. Also what kind of records do you keep because I think my records are a little scarce. I just keep records on what they are eating and how often and when they go into shed and how much they weigh whenever I feel like weighing them. But I also only have two snakes as of now so that may be why.

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Originally Posted by cassandra

Great post Jamie! (even tho you do wear little girls pink panties whenever possible =D)

And the time...yeah...spent an hour just cleaning one cage this week. Big snake, big cage, big POOP. But I knew that going into it. When thinking about having a snake or another snake or another 10 snakes, you need to ask "am I ready to commit to cleaning up this animal's poo for potential the next several decades?"

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Yes i agree but, you also shouldn't get a snake based on the clean up. I think if you buy a snake that you really really love then the clean up is not a big deal. It's just something that comes with having an awesome pet.

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Originally Posted by dr del

Never heard of the stopping feeding to clear out her body part?

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Ditto, normally she does that all by herself shortly after the male is introduced into her tub...

...and if you've paired BP'ers before you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Sure have been a lot of necromancers around here lately...

How do I start a new thread?

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Originally Posted by Cornsnakeluver89

How do I start a new thread?

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Click on forums in the site navigation menu (on your left), chose the appropriate forum (BP breeding in your case) and click on it , than click on the "post a new thread button"

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/a.../NewThread.png

I personally like it, that way when I click "new posts" it shows me things I haven't seen before or didn't think to search.

true story.

i'm getting into breeding BPs as a hobby and (hopefully) a bit of extra spending money.

i do honestly like the animals, so it's not just for the $$$.

and depending on how this goes the next few years, i may try to open up my own business and do this full time after i retire from my current line of work.

hi sirs, newbie question. Is it possible for a female BP to eat while being pregnant? Is it an indicator if your BP is pregnant will it stop eating?

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Originally Posted by Bagel&CreamCheese

hi sirs, newbie question. Is it possible for a female BP to eat while being pregnant? Is it an indicator if your BP is pregnant will it stop eating?

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You might want to start a you thread to get more exposure and answers (see my post above on how to)


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thank you so much

I can't say my boyfriend will ever get into snakes like I am but then again, I'll never be into cars like he is so it would be even, LOL. I can snake while he's in the shop. He feel in love within days of bringing Kayly home though so maybe he would learn to love it too.

Thank you very much for this post!

I'm trying to do as much research as I can, as well as taking into consideration EVERYTHING that comes with breeding before I decide to do it.
This post helped me a lot.

Can you breed a ghost pastel with a normal ball Python.

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Originally Posted by Hellboy

Can you breed a ghost pastel with a normal ball Python.

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Why would you think you couldn't?

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Originally Posted by Hellboy

Can you breed a ghost pastel with a normal ball Python.

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Rather than ask a question on an old post created by someone that has not been on the board for years, I would suggest to create your own thread.

But yes you can so long you have a male and a female you can breed any BP mutation to another.