Can Males Sense Females in Same Rack?

[marct]

Sunday was the day I transferred my female ball from quarantine to one of my racks. The only available tub was one directly on top of one of my males. Since then, he has been roaming around non-stop, trying to escape and refused his meal. When I opened his tub, he quickly rushed in an attempt to escape. I held him fand he quickly headed to my new female's tub. Common sense tells me he can sense her and wants to mate but I want someone with more experience to offer me their opinion.

He is a 3 year old male that has never bred. I have not changed any temps nor has my humidity changed. The female is 6 years old and has also never been bred.

Thank you in advance for your replies and suggestions.

[CoolioTiffany]

Sounds like he may want to mate with your female. He is showing signs of what males do when they are ready to mate with a female. It's your choice if you want to breed or not, but if you know little or nothing about breeding I would suggest doing A LOT of research before doing anything.

[Kaorte]

He might be able to smell her.
I really haven't heard of this before. It would be interesting to hear about if some more experienced members would chime in?

[muddoc]

Developing females do release pheromones. So, the short answer is yes he does sense that she is there, and is probably wanting to breed. I would say that if he appears to be that excited, she is probably in her prime, and if you were looking to have some baby ball pythons, I would pair them up.

Hope that helps,

[marct]

Thanks for you reply... Is it proper husbandry to place females and males in the same rack with the intention is to breed them in the future? Does this practice have possible complications with trying to breed them?

[muddoc]

Thanks for you reply... Is it proper husbandry to place females and males in the same rack with the intention is to breed them in the future? Does this practice have possible complications with trying to breed them?

I actually have some of my racks that have no males in them. I also have racks that every other tub is a male. I don't know that organizing a rack one way is any better, as I have males across the room from a female will start cruising the tank. I think the pheromones can attract a male from great distances (probably part of how breeding actually occurs in the wild). I can't see any complications, other than your male possibly going on a hunger strike due to his desire to breed.

[marct]

Thanks for the info... i see your also from louisiana... i would love to check out your set up one day....