Early breeding

[ironpython]

I have a female 1100 grams and a male 900. I put them together and they snuggled and put their cloaca together and I think they want to breed but I know she is a little under recommended weight but I'm impatient am I doing the wrong thing should I wait a couple months for breeding season? If not a problem with weight do they breed this time of year?j

[adam_c]

technically you could breed ball pythons all year round, but these animals aren't dumb. they have pretty good instinct and "internal timers" and they know when it's "breeding season". right now, your female is a under weight for breeding. i don't breed my females until they are around 1500+ grams. so if i were you i would wait! that's a BIG thing with breeding ball pythons; patience is KEY!

but in the end it always pays off! it's such a rewarding hobby/industry!

[1nstinct]

i agree with adam, but how hold is you female? some balls are just smaller it depends on her age,size, and body condition, i read on another forum where a guy had a female pastel that was 900 grams i believe and she laid eggs for him. My female PH albino i have had for 8 years and just this year hit over 1500 grams(terrible eater except this year), she could have breed years ago because she has a very good body condition and she was definitely sexually matured.

[Dave Green]

I would feed her and breed her in January....

[darthsamurai]

I would definitely fatten her up for a while longer. If breeding has taught me anything, it's patience. As for it being too early, I go year round. I had a clutch laid 4 days ago, 1 female that's gravid, and 2 pairs locked right now

[Andybill]

I would feed her and breed her in January....

x2. I also have an 1100g lady but I am going to hold off on breeding her until january. I think she will be ready as far as maturity is concerned by the time breeding season rolls around but I want to put some more weight on her. Patience is tough for me too but I want to do this right so I am gonna have to bear down and keep to my plan.

[ironpython]

I guess I'll seperate them then but I've seen them with there tails locked together. Hope its not too late. She's a rescue so I don't know her exact age. I was told two years but she is a great eater and very thick. I want my first breeding to be successful so I'll wait, she will surely gain 300 by Jan.

[CD CONSTRICTORS]

I guess I'll seperate them then but I've seen them with there tails locked together. Hope its not too late. She's a rescue so I don't know her exact age. I was told two years but she is a great eater and very thick. I want my first breeding to be successful so I'll wait, she will surely gain 300 by Jan.

Nothing is "for sure". Hopefully she doesn't go on strike and keeps feeding.

I have a slow spider feeder and one spinner on strike for 2 months now. Hopefully they will get back on track and be ready for fall 2013. I'm crossing my fingers for my 2010 female Pied who is cresting 1100g after her last shed. She shed last week and took two small rats yesterday... store was out of mediums and she did not hesitate at all when I put the 2nd one in her tub. My Pinstripe is right behind her.... she eats right through a shed!! Nothing stops her. She is relatively short for her girth and sits at 963g... a nice holdback for next season.

[ironpython]

I was posting from my Mothers house, and just got home and went to seperate the snakes. They were in the hide together and when I went to separate them they were locked up and I saw the males sex organs were out. I hope I wasn't to late.

- - - Updated - - -

I was posting from my Mothers house, and just got home and went to seperate the snakes. They were in the hide together and when I went to separate them they were locked up and I saw the males sex organs were out. I hope I wasn't to late. How and when will I know if they bred?

[Kaorte]

If you are just pairing them up now, its going to be a good 4-6 months or more before you see eggs. All it takes is one lock Keep her eating well and she should be fine. Though coreydelong is right, nothing is ever "for sure" when it comes to these animals. Their eating habits change regularly so you can't ever expect a female to be at the weight you want by a certain time. I wish it were that easy!

Next time, do some research and have a little more preparation before you breed animals. It is not something you want to do on a whim. Be sure you have an incubator for the eggs and housing for all the babies once they hatch! Like bringing any life into the world, it is a big responsibility!

P.S. Patience