Can you breed any time of the year successfully?

I am curious as to when most of you start to pair your snakes together? I know a lot of you wait until the official breeding season starts but it can be done any other time of year successfully also? Yes, I have been asking a lot of questions about breeding. This is because I would like to eventually pair my males with my female but I am trying to do as much reasearch as possible before even trying.

I'm not a breeder, but I have seen this question answered in the affirmative many times. BPs can breed at any time of the year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slim

I'm not a breeder, but I have seen this question answered in the affirmative many times. BPs can breed at any time of the year.

---

Thanks for the response Slim! That is pretty much what I have gathered myself. I am just curious to see what others have to say about it.

You can breed year round, but it depends on the cycle your females are on. Not all females develope follicles during "breeding season", so learning to correctly palpate will definately come in handy and let you know when its time to set the mood for certain females.

how about twice in one year?

Females will only produce once a year as far as i know. Even if they could do more than one, it wouldnt be advised because producing eggs takes a lot out of them n they need that time to replenish their fat and calcium reserves.

I am now at the point to where I breed as females and or males become up to size this pretty much translate as year round breeding now.

I have animals that I started pairing in October, some in January and some at the end of last month.

First eggs were laid in February and the is no telling when the last one will be laid since I have females in various stages of development and started pairing others.

The only times animals male or females may be pulled out of rotation is if they suffer dramatic weight loss due to fast in that case they will be rested again and bred at a later time.

There are many successful ways to breed BP the most important is to find the one that works for you and your animals.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deborah

I am now at the point to where I breed as females and or males become up to size this pretty much translate as year round breeding now.

I have animals that I started pairing in October, some in January and some at the end of last month.

First eggs were laid in February and the is no telling when the last one will be laid since I have females in various stages of development and started pairing others.

The only times animals male or females may be pulled out of rotation is if they suffer dramatic weight loss due to fast in that case they will be rested again and bred at a later time.

There are many successful ways to breed BP the most important is to find the one that works for you and your animals.

---

Thank you so much for responding Deb! I was hoping that you would reply! This information is very helpful to me!

Yes, some females can produce twice within a 12 month period. It all depends on how fast they restore fat reserves for breeding and when THEY begin to cycle themselves. I have seen it with both a ball and a chondro.

awesome 411. thanks everyone!!! I don't want to apply stress to any of my animals, and the info provided was great. I like the rotation idea, of pairing up later. Keeps the breeding and clutch excitement going longer :D.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Christopher De Leon

You can breed year round, but it depends on the cycle your females are on. Not all females develope follicles during "breeding season", so learning to correctly palpate will definately come in handy and let you know when its time to set the mood for certain females.

---

Dude, say we already know and set the mood for those certain females, in terms of their follicles growth, the thing is...what if we dont have any males that ready to breed in that 'unusual' breeding season Or perhaps all our males already bred all year round. Do our males would know if certain females are ready to be bred? Cheers

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by repkeeper79

Dude, say we already know and set the mood for those certain females, in terms of their follicles growth, the thing is...what if we dont have any males that ready to breed in that 'unusual' breeding season Or perhaps all our males already bred all year round. Do our males would know if certain females are ready to be bred? Cheers

---

Even though you probably could breed a male year round, you shouldnt. Like females, they need some down time too. Males who are bred too often will either lose interest in breeding -OR WORSE- keep breeding strong and lose an interest in food and start losing weight.

If you have or find a large male willing to breed year round and he continues to eat well and maintain or gain weight, then i dont see anything wrong with that as long as you give him long and frequent resting periods between pairings.

So if I were to pick up some normal breeder ladies that laid say last month it would probably be wise to wait until the normal breeding season to start pairing them again as opposed to pairing in October, yes?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Andybill

So if I were to pick up some normal breeder ladies that laid say last month it would probably be wise to wait until the normal breeding season to start pairing them again as opposed to pairing in October, yes?

---

Well, technically breeding season starts in Oct/Nov or so. An example, I started pairing in Oct and I didnt get my first clutch until April 9th. As long as my female puts back on all her weight(and hopefully more), she will be ready to start being paired again in Oct.

Breeding is a year long process even when you only breed in season. Its takes a lot of effort and patience and to be sucessful and keep your animals healthy you must educate yourself. Even though BPs are considered readily breedable, its more than just slappin some snakes together and producing. My advice is do as much research as you have time to. Read, watch videos, ask questions in the forums,and make friends with other herpers. If the hobby doesnt become an addiction, youre not doing it right. Lol. :D

Ok a lot of the things I have read has people starting to pair their snakes dec 1, but a lot of that also says they start temp drops nov 1. so I assumed the "normal breeding season" began at that time for most breeders but I saw someone post something about pairing in Oct and, well I just purchased a couple of normal breeder females that laid last month and so I was wondering if Oct would be ok to start pairing them again.... Thanks!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Christopher De Leon

Well, technically breeding season starts in Oct/Nov or so. An example, I started pairing in Oct and I didnt get my first clutch until April 9th. As long as my female puts back on all her weight(and hopefully more), she will be ready to start being paired again in Oct.

Breeding is a year long process even when you only breed in season. Its takes a lot of effort and patience and to be sucessful and keep your animals healthy you must educate yourself. Even though BPs are considered readily breedable, its more than just slappin some snakes together and producing. My advice is do as much research as you have time to. Read, watch videos, ask questions in the forums,and make friends with other herpers. If the hobby doesnt become an addiction, youre not doing it right. Lol. :D

---

Aye..aye..Sir...:D:D
One more thing, I have this girl (noticed and noted copulation 14x) has been glowing and having this ridge back thing (very obvious and pronounce), did I missed her ovulating??? It's been 41 days after her last shed. Also, This V-shaped back thing should be coming after ovy right??? Pls enlighten me..:please:

Yes the v shape back thing comes after ovy. :gj:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Andybill

Yes the v shape back thing comes after ovy. :gj:

---

Thanks bro!!:)

Females are viable to breed when they have appropriately sized follicles. Most Ball python females will start cycling in the winter and spring months, but others will cycle at other times of the year.

Using an ultrasound helps to measure follicle size and find this window of viability.

If a female is going to develop follicles in July, it isn't going to do any good to pair her up in January.

Pairing Balls up year round "just in case" causes stress issues and can affect appetite, health and growth. You really only want to pair the female up when she is viable.

We have had eggs laid in December, and in January. As well as every month in between. Most clutches are laid during the typical season, but given a large enough sample, you can see clutches year round. That doesn't mean you can force a female that might normally cycle in an off month, like October, and get her to cycle in March, it just means you have to catch her in October, and get the pairing done.

Males can breed year round, but that is also a physical drain. You have to make sure they stay well fed, and don't literally burn themselves out. I have had a male that breeds 10 different females one season, really any cycling female you put him with, and then the following season breed exactly zero. Just no interest. Not sure if that is male cycling, or he was just wore out.

It is all one big match game- willing male with viable female, at whatever time of the year that is : )

My last clutch of 2011 hatched December 2nd. I have new clutches that hatched about 3-4 weeks ago.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Robyn@SYR

Females are viable to breed when they have appropriately sized follicles. Most Ball python females will start cycling in the winter and spring months, but others will cycle at other times of the year.

---

Thanks for this - also wondering.
Research time :)