Feeding while gravid

Do all ball pythons go off feed after ovulation or does it just depend on the feeding resonse of that particular snake?

I can't recall ever having one of mine eat after ovulation.

Depends on the snake...

I have a female who feeds up to her POS.

In my experience it would be quite rare for a female ball python to feed after ovulation. I cannot say with confidence that it has ever happened in my collection. I believe there are compelling physiological reasons for females to avoid food during this time but must also acknowledge that it is a standing practice amongst breeders to avoid offering food to obviously gravid females. We do this because it is highly unlikely they will take the food and the introduction of a rodent into the cage can cause the snake unnecessary stress.

If I just spent a year (or three) getting my female to a point where she is producing eggs I'm not willing to mess it all up by trying to squeeze in one more rat after fertilization has occurred. It's just not worth the bad things that could happen.

Cheers,

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Originally Posted by ColinWeaver

In my experience it would be quite rare for a female ball python to feed after ovulation. I cannot say with confidence that it has ever happened in my collection. I believe there are compelling physiological reasons for females to avoid food during this time but must also acknowledge that it is a standing practice amongst breeders to avoid offering food to obviously gravid females. We do this because it is highly unlikely they will take the food and the introduction of a rodent into the cage can cause the snake unnecessary stress.

If I just spent a year (or three) getting my female to a point where she is producing eggs I'm not willing to mess it all up by trying to squeeze in one more rat after fertilization has occurred. It's just not worth the bad things that could happen.

Cheers,

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x2!

Once you know she has Ovulated it is definitely not recommended to offer food, for the sake of stress and there is obviously less room for food while follicles/eggs are developing within her.

I have one female who eats all the way through being preggo but others that will not eat the day after breeding. It all depends on the snake.

OK Thanks everyone for the replys.Now here is the reason I'm asking.I have a female normal that I paired with my lesserpastel Near the end of July.I finally witnessed copulation on 8/3.The female is displaying lots of gravid behavior.REfusing the male,Wrapping the water dish,Laying inverted and now what I believe to be a POS on 9/5. I've never bred BP's before but I was 98% positive she was gravid,until today.

I thought females refused food when gravid but I gave her a rat and she was all over it!(Shes a VERY good feeder) So I'm kind of second guessing myself.I've read post stating that BP's have been paired for 9months before a successful ovulation. What is an average timeframe from copulation to POS?

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Originally Posted by RhacHead

OK Thanks everyone for the replys.Now here is the reason I'm asking.I have a female normal that I paired with my lesserpastel Near the end of July.I finally witnessed copulation on 8/3.The female is displaying lots of gravid behavior.REfusing the male,Wrapping the water dish,Laying inverted and now what I believe to be a POS on 9/5. I've never bred BP's before but I was 98% positive she was gravid,until today.

I thought females refused food when gravid but I gave her a rat and she was all over it!(Shes a VERY good feeder) So I'm kind of second guessing myself.I've read post stating that BP's have been paired for 9months before a successful ovulation. What is an average timeframe from copulation to POS?

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No such thing as gravid, eggs are a joke all the big names are playing on us. BPs come from spaceships straight to the big "breeders" and then are airbrushed in weird colors and distributed throughout the world.

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Originally Posted by pavlovk1025

No such thing as gravid, eggs are a joke all the big names are playing on us. BPs come from spaceships straight to the big "breeders" and then are airbrushed in weird colors and distributed throughout the world.

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Haha that was great :)

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Originally Posted by pavlovk1025

No such thing as gravid, eggs are a joke all the big names are playing on us. BPs come from spaceships straight to the big "breeders" and then are airbrushed in weird colors and distributed throughout the world.

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Sounds like someones head is still floating in a certain thread from yesterday...:P

If your snake is still eating she in most likely not gravid. I did not want to accept this fact with my first breeding earlier this year either. One of my girls was giving me all the signs you listed. I continued to feed, until one day she refused. Three weeks later she ovulated. If you girl is eating agressively she is probably still building follicles. I would continue to feed if I were you. You might be experiencing a pre ovulation shed. Just be patient, it pays.:gj:

It seems way too soon to be signs of her being gravid. I would continue feeding until you see definite signs of her ovulating.

More than likely she will refuse food far before then anyway. :gj:

Yes I keep trying to tell myself that shes not gravid.Just because its easier to be surprised instead of dissapointed!

I understand the signs of being gravid could be coincidental but then I think about two things.
1.She has always been a very good eater(Has never refused a meal)
2.These 2 were locking up for 24 hours every time I introduced them and now they don't lock at all.

So heres my question,At what point do females begin refusing a male/does he lose interest in her?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RhacHead

Yes I keep trying to tell myself that shes not gravid.Just because its easier to be surprised instead of dissapointed!

I understand the signs of being gravid could be coincidental but then I think about two things.
1.She has always been a very good eater(Has never refused a meal)
2.These 2 were locking up for 24 hours every time I introduced them and now they don't lock at all.

So heres my question,At what point do females begin refusing a male/does he lose interest in her?

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I have a het Albino girl, proven breeder goes like clockwork & she hooked up multiple times with my Homozygous Albino male... but she's still feeding. Just when you think you got them figured out. :confused::confused: