Just a few questions...Please Help!

[BallPythonBabe448]

Ok. I was reading a caresheet on breeding, and it said their temps cool down in November-January. How is this? Ball Pythons are from africa and our winters are their summers. So it would be warm during our winters. I'm confused on this one.

#2 Is it possible to breed them in other months? Or does it always have to be in our winter (er..their summer)? I was just wondering on this one.

#3 I know the breeding weight for females is 1500 (minimum). What about males? Does it matter how much they weigh?

Thanks for the help!

[Shelby]

Well considering that the light cycle probably is partly what prompts breeding activity, it is better to cool them in winter, no matter where they are. They don't know they aren't in Africa as far as the seasons go.

[Smulkin]

Also you have to break the assumption you are dealing with wild-caught specimens straight out of Africa who are acclimated to those (native) seasons. Hopefully you've got some CBB to work with.

[BallPythonBabe448]

Yes....CBB.

Well...I need to have one of my snakes probed this week so that I can determine if it really is a male (i think so..)

[Adam_Wysocki]

Ok. I was reading a caresheet on breeding, and it said their temps cool down in November-January. How is this? Ball Pythons are from africa and our winters are their summers. So it would be warm during our winters. I'm confused on this one.

#2 Is it possible to breed them in other months? Or does it always have to be in our winter (er..their summer)? I was just wondering on this one.

#3 I know the breeding weight for females is 1500 (minimum). What about males? Does it matter how much they weigh?

Thanks for the help!

Ball pythons can be bred any time of the year. Many breeders have clutches hatching all year round.

It does not matter if they are CB, LTC, WC, or whatever. The important thing is that they have a "trigger" to induce them into breeding and then a second "trigger" so that females know when to ovulate.

For first time breeders in many parts of the US, using the natural triggers of North Americas fall and spring help insure breeding success. No matter what your cage temps are, your ball pythons can sense the temps outside which is why so many more ball pythons fast during the winter than during the summer months. Attempts to get ball pythons to breed during other times of the year are often met with failure unless you really know what you're doing (or if you just get lucky). For consistent and reliable results, the fall - spring schedule is your best bet.

For inexperienced breeders males should be at least 750 grams to help them remain healthy through the entire breeding season.

-adam