Ball python fasting and breeding...

[cchardwick]

I was planning on breeding some of my ball pythons this November for the first time but most of the breeders have been on a fast for a couple months and are losing weight. How do you manage fasting prior to breeding? Is it OK to still breed them if they still have the proper body condition and weight? I'm assuming they are fasting because they think it's the breeding season, perhaps I should pair them off when they go on a fast?

[Hannahshissyfix]

There is no set breeding season so a fast doesn't have to do with that. I don't know the size of your collection but if "most" of your adults are off food is try to figure why that is. Something off with husbandry or are you feeding them larger prey than necessary leading to periods of quick growth followed by the fasting to compensate possibly. I wouldn't pair anything that hasn't been eating. Males tend to go off food when they've been breeding and you want your females to be able to continue eating and gaining while being paired and their follicles grow.