Whats the smallest you'd breed?

[RandyRemington]

I've been thiking about breeding my 15200g female this season (starting late), and my male pastel- but I'm not too sure about it.. He's only 350g's- which to me seems pretty small, so I'm about 99% sure that I'm going to wait untill next year...

So what have you been feeding that 33 lb female ball python?

Lol, I assume you really mean something like 1,500 grams. I'd give her a try unless she is exceptionally long and thin for her frame.

[nixer]

i wonder how many eggs you could get out of a female that large lol
8 1000 gram eggs or 100 100 gram eggs

[Blue Apple Herps]

Now that I've settled that, with the help of all of you- thanks - now on to the incubator.. Though Ive trusted myself to build a rack, I do NOT trust myself to make an incubator, so any suggestions? I've heard these are good :http://www.bigappleherp.com/Hovabato...2&category=28# but I would like to hear some peoples personal oppinionos on it, and other types and brands.
Please and thanks

I wouldn't use the hovabator. As was mentioned they're designed to incubate chicken eggs. They have been used for reptile eggs, but they are known to dry out the air, so you have to keep your eye on the eggs to make sure they don't get dehydrated.

I would either make one yourself or buy one. You can use an insulated cooler; line the bottom with some 11" flexwatt and then place bottles of water on top of the flexwatt (for thermo stability). Here's a shot of one (2nd pic): http://cornsnakes.com/forums/showpos...36&postcount=4

You can also convert an old refrigerator into an incubator in a similar manner.

[frankykeno]

Now that I've settled that, with the help of all of you- thanks - now on to the incubator.. Though Ive trusted myself to build a rack, I do NOT trust myself to make an incubator, so any suggestions? I've heard these are good :http://www.bigappleherp.com/Hovabato...2&category=28# but I would like to hear some peoples personal oppinionos on it, and other types and brands.
Please and thanks

Hovabators are made to incubate chicken eggs. Some folks have used them with success, but I've read of many more failures than successes.

I'm at work, so I don't have access to all my DIY incubator links. Hopefully others can answer those questions for you.

Here's a few of my saved links for homemade incubators....

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=53399

http://www.glassreptiles.com/articles/incubator.pdf

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/incubator.shtml

http://www.eyehit.com/degei/supportf.../inc/index.htm

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ight=incubator

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ight=incubator

For ready made incubators.....

http://www.nsreptiles.com/ (I've seen these in person at a show Casey vends at...very nice incubator!)

I've likely missed a ton of links to great BPNet threads on making your own incubator so a quick run through our search engine should give you loads more information.

[West Coast Jungle]

I have used a hovabator for beardie eggs in the past but would never use it for BP eggs. BP's need high humidity which a hovabator can't control well, also there is no air circulation in a hovabator so even if you got the humidity up there it would probably get real nasty. Beardie eggs can take alot more humidity and temp swings and still hatch fine. I don't use a hovabator anymore but did get 100% hatched beardies back in the day. make a incubator out of a cooler or old refrig for BP's and you will have more success.

[rabernet]

I would either make one yourself or buy one. You can use an insulated cooler; line the bottom with some 11" flexwatt and then place bottles of water on top of the flexwatt (for thermo stability). Here's a shot of one (2nd pic): http://cornsnakes.com/forums/showpos...36&postcount=4

That's a cool way to use a cooler - would never have thought outside the box like that myself!

[mischevious21]

[QUOTE=RandyRemington;678067][QUOTE=mischevious21;677875]I've been thiking about breeding my 15200g female this season (starting late), and my male pastel- but I'm not too sure about it.. He's only 350g's- which to me seems pretty small, so I'm about 99% sure that I'm going to wait untill next year...

So what have you been feeding that 33 lb female ball python?

Lol, I assume you really mean something like 1,500 grams. I'd give her a try unless she is exceptionally long and thin for her frame.

lol, whoops, i mean 1500. lol. But last night I did put them together (I know I said that I was going to wait, but whats the point?), and they dont seem very interested in 'doin the deed'.

At first he was just interested in seeing if he could escape theis differnt enclosure- but of course he couldent- then he just curled up into a ball with her and they've just stayed like that sense...

Is there anything I can do to get him more interested? Or her I guess? lol, they seem like buddys, but I'm hoping that they'll be more like 'friends with benifiets' hehe.

[Ginevive]

Yeah, I had a hovabator disaster also. The wafer thermostat is not good. What happened is, I had a power outage (this was back in 2006) and the incubator cooked my eggs afterward after the power went on.
I would research the threads about building your own incubator, or better yet, try to buy one that someone else used successfully. I personally recommend a Helix t-stat with Flexwatt as a heating element, inside some sort of insulated cooler or box.

[mischevious21]

Yea, I'm liking the cooler idea. It seems pretty simple- and plus I donthave an extra fridge to convert. lol.

[Kara]

But I am curious, because Ive noticed some people on here breeding smaller males.

For some reason I have a feeling this thread isn't about my ex...who's proof that not EVERYTHING is bigger in TX...

Oh well.

500-800g min. on the males, 1500-1700 MIN on the females. I personally prefer 2000+ on female balls, but my perspective is clouded by blood pythons. I'm way more interested in age than size on this kind of stuff. If the age is there, the size should follow.

IMHO.

K~