Breeding Year round?

I was talking to someone who breeds snakes and he said that some people actually don't follow the breeding season and that they choose to breed their ball pythons during any time of the year. Is this an ok thing to do? Does it mess up any cycle that shouldn't be messed with? How many of you breed year-round?

I know Kevin and Kara breed year round (NERD) and Tracy Barker was talking about it on Reptile Radio this past episode that she now listens to her snakes. If a female suddenly goes off food in the summer, and is of breeding weight - she's probably telling you that she wants to breed. I'm sure I didn't sum it up exactly, but if you listen to the show, it's quite interesting.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/reptileradio

I admit, I have tried halfheartedly to do it, with no success.

It was one of those "Hey, lets try it" moments one time a couple years ago. I didn't expect much out of it, to be honest, and I didn't get anything either!

I plan on trying again this year later on in the year... :D I'll let you know how it goes ;)

Definatly let me know how it goes. I was just wondering because I was originally going to wait till next year to start breeding but I was curious about the year-round breeding.

I agree with watching your snakes. I have one girl that already laid eggs and some that are just starting to breed. My early girl was paired in early September as soon as she refused her first meal. I still cycle gradually but knowing a female and watching for HER signs is a great tool. Some just go at their own time and you don't wanna miss it.

Not that I have any experience to speak of, but we have researched it and plan to try it here soon. So you can take this for what it is worth, but the following is what we have found out and decided.

Something I was told by a breeder was that once a girl breeds she will start to cycle based on that and breed around the same time every year. So if you are planning on going off usual breeding schedules you may want to make sure it is with a girl who has never been bred before. My wife and I have intentions of starting to breed our two normal females once quarantine is done and we know they are 100% healthy. This has put us back into some time in April. Through discussions with some breeders it may actually be a better time due to our local weather going through large High and low pressure systems during this time. I think also by going off what is a normal time it is also critical to make sure you cycle the temps properly to help get them in the mood.

Well as of June, QT for my two normal females will be up. One of them is already breeding size but I'm not sure if she's ever been bred before.

I breed twice a year, so my girls go in two rotations. Keeps me from overloading the 'bator, and makes life more interesting.

Cheers,
Kat

Would you happen to have a schedule that you follow for two breedings a year? We are thinking of breeding our larger female once she's out of QT. We have a giant freezer available to make into an incubator (it will hold way more clutches than we will produce even when we are in our 3rd and 4th breeding season. That won't take long to make into a 'bator and I'll be getting hatchling racks this summer.

Season 1 -
Start in Nov w cooling/pairing :Jan warmup/pairing :Laying Feb-April.

Season 2 -
Start May w cooling/pairing: July warmup/pairing: Laying Aug-Oct.


Probably helps being in Cali, with very little weather fluctuation, year around. :2cent:

Cheers,
Kat

To address the issue of 'listening' to your snakes. I think that advice is dead-on. If I have a girl who doesn't seem like she wants to go on the first shift, I push her back to the second. I have a few girls who refuse to be 'scheduled', but the majority go when you expect them to as long as you keep conditions just right.

Hope it helps.

Cheers,
Kat

Well we are in Virginia. We were thinking of starting to cool them down in June. Thats when the QT is up. We actually have a mini fridge available to use as an incubator since it will take a while to get the big freezer over here. The small mini fridge will hold at least 2 clutches and is not heavy.

Question: Is it absolutely necessary to strip the mini fridge of all the motor and freon? Its not heavy and we can leave it unplugged. Any ill effects to keeping the freon and motor intact?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

Well we are in Virginia. We were thinking of starting to cool them down in June. Thats when the QT is up. We actually have a mini fridge available to use as an incubator since it will take a while to get the big freezer over here. The small mini fridge will hold at least 2 clutches and is not heavy.

Question: Is it absolutely necessary to strip the mini fridge of all the motor and freon? Its not heavy and we can leave it unplugged. Any ill effects to keeping the freon and motor intact?

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If the freon was to leak that may cause a problem.