To hatch or to sell?

[Rickys_Reptiles]

They break the barrier more likely because they are trying to have more space to explore, or trying to escape the actual tank.
They are also more than likely only acting like that because of a breeding response, the males can get frustrated and the females can be more defensive when they are being bred/being exposed to males. Males should be cycled regularly so they don't exhaust themselves or refuse meals for too long, and ESPECIALLY should not be kept year round with a female...

They shouldn't be homed together in one tank, even with a barrier. Give them time to settle in separate tanks. Make sure they don't have each others' smell on them, and make sure they have proper hides...

And if you don't want to have to do snake abortions, you should probably make sure to practice snake birth control by keeping them apart. They will breed as long as they are kept together.

[bcr229]

Help please! I want to learn, but not at the cost of endangering the babies/eggs

If you are close to southern PA I could pick up the eggs and incubate them.

[RellesReptiles]

HAHAHAHA I'm DYING!! This is the best thing ever. My day is made.

[Chkadii]

I'm in Philly; if plans fall through and you're not too far from me I could help incubate your eggs.

[Kibbleswhites]

The aggressive behavior you are describing may result from stress. Snakes are incapable of emotions or attachment to another being. They do not have social skills or love or hate. This is because they have no frontal lobe. Ball pythons like living alone, all of them, all of the time. They only interact with another ball python in the wild to breed and incubate/hatch young. This is fact, for sure, absolutely, no questions asked. You should sell the female now and keep the male mojo alone in your nice display tank.

And while I hate to argue with anyone on here, I've been raising many different species of animals for well over 15 years, and know animals exceptionally well. So when I say inseparable, I mean that they have been separated before and will stop at nothing to be in the same tank. They're in a 75 gallon tank and which get's separated in two for feedings, however they consistently break the barrier to the point where I gave up. If i pick him up to take him out, she attacks me. When I successfully get him out, he tries to climb back in. The only reason I haven't sold her previously is because when they've been in separate tanks they both kind of go crazy. So I've just figured that if I want to keep him, I'll have to suck it up and deal with her.

Also, definitely a male/female pair. They are both proven she has successfully laid eggs before (sired by him). The only reason I bought the pair was because the guy didn't know how to feed them and they were starving

[lawnchaircrisis]

Thanks to all of you who offered to incubate the eggs for me! I'm actually in Northern PA, and found someone super close by who is either going to incubate the eggs for me, or (more likely) buy the female as she is and then hatch out the eggs for themselves. It's a good deal for them because they're getting both a proven breeder and the eggs for a good price, and it's good for me because I'll be able to go over and see the little ones once they hatch!

[RellesReptiles]

Thanks to all of you who offered to incubate the eggs for me! I'm actually in Northern PA, and found someone super close by who is either going to incubate the eggs for me, or (more likely) buy the female as she is and then hatch out the eggs for themselves. It's a good deal for them because they're getting both a proven breeder and the eggs for a good price, and it's good for me because I'll be able to go over and see the little ones once they hatch!

That's great! Sounds like the perfect solution. Mom won't be too stressed out and the babies will have somebody prepared to take care of them. Plus there is no better feeling seeing those tiny little babies crawl out, so I'm glad you'll get to experience it!