Looking to learn in Preparation for next year:)

Hopefully next year i will be ready to try 4-5 female breeding clutches. A couple questions I have.

there is no way I will have the skill to build my own incubator system...I have looked at the posts on them and I am like, hrmmmmmm dont see that happening lol....as a result are there any good recs for Company Made Incubator Systems that people have used and think are reliable?

second, is there a good place to go to learn the basic flow of breeding, what to look for, etc etc, ovulation....pre shed.....countdown, etc etc etc, I learn from reading stuff but then when I try to flow it together i lose track a bit....ie no more pairing up required when.....start pairing when, etc etc...not sure if this is making sense....I did look at Justin K's flow chart on his website...again sometimes I look and I am like got it, other times it looks like physics lol..

ty Troy

Here's the incubators

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=64343

And here's your link

http://ballpython.ca/gallery/breeding.html

In addition to the links that Pavlov gave you, try looking at this:

http://www.8ballpythons.com/journal/...ngcalendar.htm

And once you have babies, this will be helpful:

http://www.8ballpythons.com/journal/...ingseating.htm

Most importantly, READ a lot. I'd try to read at least one full year of posts in this breeding forum before you start pairing. If you just read all the new ones from now until fall, you won't actually see that much regarding pairings, seeing locks, etc. Obviously, you can go quite quickly through most of the posts that are just showing pics of stuff, so it really won't be nearly as much as it sounds like, and you have several months still.

Hey Troy,

As for an incubator, this is what I use now, http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=81731

You can order the hovabator online or depending where you are in MN, Bruce from Twin Cities Reptile sells hovabators. Then it is just a matter of screwing the heating element from the hovabator into the cooler.

Hovabator $40 at LLLReptile
I've used them and think they work good.

I can tell you from experience that learning and reading is fantastic. Props on wanting to know the ins and outs of how to breed. It make your first breeding season so exciting to see your first lock, first OVY, and first eggs then first babies.

Everyone has given you some great info so far..my only word to you is be ready for things to change, and don't get frustrated when things start going differently than planned.

Have fun and take notes..:gj:

Here is another nice incubator just to show you a variety of what is out there. www.nsreptiles.com

Thank you to everyone that posted! Not my thread I know, but I'm in the same situation - my largest female is a little over 1400g, and I think she might be ready by next breeding season. Since we are on the topic of BP breeding questions for first timers... If you have a female (or male for that matter) that is approaching breeding weight, do they typically go on feeding strikes that tells you they want to breed? If so, then around when does it happen, and for how long?

My female has been hunger striking for several months now, but not losing much weight. Actually my 900g male has been hunger striking also. Troy, are you seeing this in any of the potential breeders you are raising?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

I can tell you from experience that learning and reading is fantastic. Props on wanting to know the ins and outs of how to breed. It make your first breeding season so exciting to see your first lock, first OVY, and first eggs then first babies.

Everyone has given you some great info so far..my only word to you is be ready for things to change, and don't get frustrated when things start going differently than planned.

Have fun and take notes..:gj:

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There is no substitute for DOING -- as it cements it for you as REAL. Like the surgeon creed goes: "See one, do one, teach one". Reading EVERYTHING MANY times WILL help it all sink in. Like you, I would read stuff and think I understood the sequence of things -- only to back the next day and be confused. If you have never breed ANY animals before (I had not) it will seem very foreign for a while.

After you start pairing, seeing locks and ovulations, begin setting up eggs etc.... you will become more comfortable. If you do it enough it will become "no big deal" and second nature for the most part.

I would spend some money and get a substantial incubator if it were me. I have made a couple of my own since buying my first -- a Good Apple :) I have been very happy with it. I slept well when my eggs e=were cooking. I know I would have NEVER rested had I been using any kind of hovabator. I trust that many have been successful with them -- just not for me. ;) Good Luck! Breeding is not that hard -- and it does get easier over time.:gj:

last year we decided to roll a couple clutches,using basic info we got from reading,thats where having other people involved with you,or breeding partners help,if i misread or miss something in reading,one of them catch it.Last year we hatched hem out under a bathroom sink,the bathroom is temp controlled to 84,as that closet is where my brother keeps his snakes,so we set up a heating pad with dimmer,and set a styro cooler on that,after hatching a good clutch that way,i felt pretty confident about making an incubator:),its really not hard,if youd wired flexx wat before,then you easily do it,or use reptile cable instead to make it easier.

As far as the rest goes,just read,it really isnt rocket science,hardest part i found,was catching a grasp on genetics,but you seem to have that down great.The rest of it really is just scheduleing,atleast thats how it seems to me,but i dont raise or lower temps either,so that adds a new degree of fun if you do..and dont always look for things to go exactly as planned,and by the book,,SNAKES DONT READ:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bill Buchman

There is no substitute for DOING -- as it cements it for you as REAL. Like the surgeon creed goes: "See one, do one, teach one". Reading EVERYTHING MANY times WILL help it all sink in. Like you, I would read stuff and think I understood the sequence of things -- only to back the next day and be confused. If you have never breed ANY animals before (I had not) it will seem very foreign for a while.

After you start pairing, seeing locks and ovulations, begin setting up eggs etc.... you will become more comfortable. If you do it enough it will become "no big deal" and second nature for the most part.

I would spend some money and get a substantial incubator if it were me. I have made a couple of my own since buying my first -- a Good Apple :) I have been very happy with it. I slept well when my eggs e=were cooking. I know I would have NEVER rested had I been using any kind of hovabator. I trust that many have been successful with them -- just not for me. ;) Good Luck! Breeding is not that hard -- and it does get easier over time.:gj:

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Bill I agree 100%..It really takes doing it to get a feel for it..your can read how to drive a car but till you get behind the wheel you can't explain what it's really like..

Vermiculite---I get mine from: www.uline.com
I use the coarse grade 4. I buy the boxes of grade 4. They require that you buy at least 2 boxes and that will last small breeders(like myself) a couple of years or more.

Check out Ball Bitz.
Joe Compel Reptiles---you may have to google it.

I've heard good things about the kits that Jake puts together for building your own. He also has some nice bators he fabricates.

http://www.jwexotics.com/incs.html

No matter how much you read and see photos of it, you will still have questions...

And that is why this forum is here!!!

It's a great resource as well with plenty of educated and experienced breeders.

So, once you feel comfortable with everything you read, be prepared to be hit with plenty more questions once you are in the sitch.

And then, come back in here! :D

Thank you all for the time and posts, great information:) I will be going to Michigan in August and working for Brian from BHB. Taking a couple weeks vacation and so pumped that he is letting me come up there to spend some time in a big breeder setting. Will be working and helping out but i am sure i will learn a ton from all of them there.

thanks again for all the posts:) much much appreciated!

I think you are on the right track. My only advice would be, don't overthink things too much. Learn the basics, gather information and figure out what works for you and your animals. There are tons of ways to make it happen. Whether it's cooling, pairing, feeding, housing or incubating, there are a lot of different approaches that work. Learn from the great people here and have fun!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kysenia

Thank you all for the time and posts, great information:) I will be going to Michigan in August and working for Brian from BHB. Taking a couple weeks vacation and so pumped that he is letting me come up there to spend some time in a big breeder setting. Will be working and helping out but i am sure i will learn a ton from all of them there.

thanks again for all the posts:) much much appreciated!

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u lucky bugger going to go BHB i wanted to visit his shop thinking my training was in MI but now its in Minnesota............I found out i will be in Minneapolis.At Double tree guest suites.....And Looked at the area Mall of America is 12 miles away, and found this http://www.minneapolisdoubletree.com/local_attractions/

but no vehicale company is providing a shuttle oh well packing the laptop and DVD'S.........and camera

OH BTW your post...........I downloaded all the reptile radio shows on Ball pythons...............LOTTA INFO there!

http://www.reptileradio.net/ no reading required!