Will she lay without being bred?

[B.P.'s 4me]

Perhaps a silly question for experienced breeders, I hope to breed at some point, but haven't yet.
Having said that, one of my girls (hatch date 8/16/17) weighs only 1025 grams, but has spent the last few weeks wrapped around her water dish. She did shed Jan. 18th so is bright, but seems much brighter than normal and she seems more "girthy" somehow. I don't want to breed her yet but am wondering if she may just go ahead and lay unfertilized eggs and my next question would be about the possibility of her becoming egg bound.

[Justin83]

I'm no expert but I'm sure they can't lay eggs unless she has bred, they aren't like chickens.
How big was she when you got her? Females can hold sperm for up to two years I believe. Any chance an accidental pregnancy has occurred with a previous owner?

[B.P.'s 4me]

I'm no expert but I'm sure they can't lay eggs unless she has bred, they aren't like chickens.
How big was she when you got her? Females can hold sperm for up to two years I believe. Any chance an accidental pregnancy has occurred with a previous owner?

Good thought Justin83 but it would have to be an "immaculate conception" then, LOL. I purchased her as a hatchling at 2 1/2 mos. of age. She's always been housed alone, so an accidental breeding isn't possible.

[Jellybeans]

Oh Yes they CAN produce eggs without ever seeing a male!
But they will not be fertile
Reptiles can do this. But I have read on this site that it is pretty rare for that to happen to a ball python but it can

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Partogenesis in Ball Python is very rare, now while may exhibits breeding behaviour (and I said may wrapping around a water bowl is not always linked to breeding some males do it too) if she is not bred the follicles will simply be absorbed.

[B.P.'s 4me]

Oh Yes they CAN produce eggs without ever seeing a male!
But they will not be fertile
Reptiles can do this. But I have read on this site that it is pretty rare for that to happen to a ball python but it can

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

Thank you Jellybeans, I had heard that as well, but wasn't certain, so thank you for confirming that information. :-)

[B.P.'s 4me]

Partogenesis in Ball Python is very rare, now while may exhibits breeding behaviour (and I said may wrapping around a water bowl is not always linked to breeding some males do it too) if she is not bred the follicles will simply be absorbed.

Thank you Deborah, I do understand your point about wrapping around a water bowl, but it's a bit unusual for her, and combined with the other things it did have me wondering. Thanks you for your reassurance though, and I'm glad to know that follicles (IF they exist in this case) would be reabsorbed. I learned something today. :-) Thanks again.

[Jellybeans]

Follicles are always best case scenario

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

[Justin83]

Is everything else normal? Are you sure she isn't girthy for another reason, maybe constipation or another internal problem.
I'm not saying it's not follicles but being as how rare it is maybe a trip to the vets for a scan is in order?
@deborah do follicles just form and re-absorb or can they actually lay infertile eggs having never met a male?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

@deborah do follicles just form and re-absorb or can they actually lay infertile eggs having never met a male?

As I said parthenogenesis in BP is very rare, I have been breeding for over a decade and never had that issue, I have had females absorbing follicles several times however.