Should you breed?

[Sunnieskys]

I have a female. Should you breed a BP? Will they be ok if you don't? I hear of some snakes who have eggs anyway?

[tttaylorrr]

parthenogenesis is SUPER rare for beeps. if you ever encounter it buy as many lottery tickets as you can.
there is NO reason to breed unless you want to AND fully understand the responsibility it brings. breeding requires HEAVY research for a minimum of a few years after truly understanding your animals; incubation, the many bby beeps, housing, keeping or selling...it's not just putting two snakes together and selling snakes.
hopefully some breeders can chime in.

[Craiga 01453]

NO you don't need to breed.
YES your female snake will be fine.
YES it's possible for a female to lay eggs without locking with a mate to be bred. It's called parthenogenesis and extremely rare in BPs.

[paulh]

...
YES it's possible for a female to lay eggs without locking with a mate to be bred. It's called parthenogenesis and extremely rare in BPs.

Parthenogenesis is getting babies (or fertile eggs) without being with a male. That is very, very rare in ball pythons. Laying a clutch of infertile eggs is more common but still rare.

My opinion as a snake breeder: breeding and laying eggs is more risky to the female than not breeding her.

[Sunnieskys]

Ok. Thanks all. I did not want to breed lol. I just wanted to make sure my boople would be ok. My mind is at ease.