Eggs without copulation??

[Andys-Python]

Has anyone ever had a Python lay a clutch of eggs without being with a male?
Obviously the eggs would not be fertile, but would you get a clutch of sluggs or does the female not develope follicles or ovulate without male stimulation?
I'm more curious about Green Tree Pythons since I have one and don't know it's sex - but I'm also interested in Ball Pythons because I'm interested in breeding them in the not-to-distant future.

Thanks for you comments - Andy

[satomi325]

Has anyone ever had a Python lay a clutch of eggs without being with a male?
Obviously the eggs would not be fertile, but would you get a clutch of sluggs or does the female not develope follicles or ovulate without male stimulation?
I'm more curious about Green Tree Pythons since I have one and don't know it's sex - but I'm also interested in Ball Pythons because I'm interested in breeding them in the not-to-distant future.

Thanks for you comments - Andy

Actually snakes (including BPs) can lay furtile eggs without a male.
It's called Parthenogenesis. It's a form of asexual reproduction and all of the offspring will be female.

And if the snake is not a virgin, she could retain sperm from the previous breeding season to use in the current season and lay fertile eggs even if she doesn't physically breed in the current season.

[snakesRkewl]

If she ate well but didn't breed you should get infertile eggs that look like normal good eggs but have no veins and have a yellow look to them when candled.

[Andys-Python]

Thanks! This is good to know.
I'd really like to know if my GTP is a female. She/he had some scales turn blue along her sides and underbelly this winter/spring and she looks awfuly fat. But I've been feeding her well too, so it could just be a full tummy.

Andy