Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 717

0 members and 717 guests
No Members online
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,905
Threads: 249,103
Posts: 2,572,095
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, Pattyhud
  • 03-30-2024, 11:17 PM
    bcr229
    Retained Sperm for a Decade?
    I have a 15 year old female whose last litter was laid in Feb, 2014. This morning she presented me with eggs and they look viable, so I had to fire up the incubator as I've been producing all boas the past few years. Fortunately it still works!

    I'd heard of female retaining sperm for a year, but ten years?
  • 03-31-2024, 02:33 AM
    Armiyana
    It could be a partho clutch.

    Hopefully she doesn't have genes like spider or champagne? Because that can be a problem.
  • 03-31-2024, 08:28 AM
    bcr229
    Re: Retained Sperm for a Decade?
    No she's a normal/classic.
  • 03-31-2024, 10:24 AM
    Bogertophis
    I've had a similar situation with snakes I've had since they were 1.5 years old. I can't say for sure they never bred before becoming mine :confusd: but even if they did, that would be a frightfully long time to retain sperm, so I've assumed the eggs (some viable) were parthos. Either way, have fun! :D
  • 05-31-2024, 03:50 PM
    bcr229
    Looks like a partho clutch. A few eggs went bad, one classic female pipped and came out of the egg yesterday, and I cut the remaining three good eggs last night. Another neonate is pipping today.
  • 05-31-2024, 09:17 PM
    Bogertophis
    Fingers crossed for them...pretty special!
  • 06-09-2024, 03:18 PM
    bcr229
    Just those two survived, the last two were kinked and stillborn.

    I had forgotten just how tiny and cute the babies are.
  • 06-09-2024, 05:53 PM
    Bogertophis
    Well keep us posted on the two survivors.
  • 07-01-2024, 08:29 PM
    bcr229
    They're eating and acting like typical babies. Time will tell if they survive.
  • 07-04-2025, 02:57 PM
    bcr229
    Update: we found one of the babies dead this morning. No idea why other than her history, as she had been eating weekly and acting like any other juvenile ball python, no signs of illness, and the last time we brought in a new snake was January, 2023. She was in a rack with 8 other snakes who are fine, and there are 35 other snakes in that room that are fine.

    This is why survivors of partho clutches or litters should always be disclosed to buyers, and the babies sent to pet homes rather than breeder homes.
  • 07-04-2025, 03:41 PM
    Bogertophis
    I'm sorry for your loss & I very much agree with you. Without getting into all the specific details, I too have seen unusual* outcomes in snakes that were apparent partho offspring. (*odd health issues & early deaths) It seems to me that even though nature is trying hard to promote species survival using parthenogenesis, it doesn't actually work very well. :(
  • 07-04-2025, 07:22 PM
    Lord Sorril
    Re: Retained Sperm for a Decade?
    I'm sorry for your loss!

    Were you able to notice anything unusual about the snake before/after it passed? Tumors, heavy breathing, erratic behavior, or unusual stools?

    Since offspring from parthenogenesis are extremely close to each other on the genetic level, it is a safe assumption that if you have the remaining clutchmate, they will have the same issues(s).
  • 07-05-2025, 06:17 PM
    bcr229
    Re: Retained Sperm for a Decade?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Lord Sorril View Post
    I'm sorry for your loss!

    Were you able to notice anything unusual about the snake before/after it passed? Tumors, heavy breathing, erratic behavior, or unusual stools?

    Since offspring from parthenogenesis are extremely close to each other on the genetic level, it is a safe assumption that if you have the remaining clutchmate, they will have the same issues(s).

    There was nothing unusual. I've had snakes pass from cancer and once it's advanced there are outward signs - anorexia, strong-smelling urine or changes in stools, lethargy, etc. Maybe a necropsy would show something but I don't have $400 to throw on that possibility.

    I do still have the remaining clutchmate and will likely keep her for life, however short or long that is.
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1