So most of you know I've been DYING for my girls to ovulate because I've got a serious case of egg fever. I was talking to Corey (coreydelong) about my breeding projects and we were talking about my girls that I'm waiting on ovies from. He was asking a little bit about them and I was relaying my behaviors to him. He is under the impression that she's about 1-2 weeks away form laying. Here's a summary of what I said
  • over the last 4-5 days, she's been using her newspaper bedding as a hide (something I've NEVER seen her do) in this position that she's in in the picture below. I actually took this picture tonight.
  • She was pounding rats until 3/28 (her last meal) and has since refused weekly meals - however, I didn't think to much about it since the other female I have breeding has been hit and miss on food since January and she's currently building
  • I've been pairing her exclusively to a 570g male trying to get him to breed but I've not witnessed any locks. I originally just talked it up to him being too young. He's got the plugs but doesn't know what to do (I've even tried putting another male's shed in with him and the female). However, I'm currently running an experiment since it could be that the little male IS ready to breed and that my female actually ovulated and I missed it...which would explain why I've not seen any locks between the pair. I've put this male in with the other female (to see if they lock) and I've placed my little stud muffin (who locks with the girls within 30min-hour usually) with the normal female. So far (he's been in there 2 hours or so), not locked up.
  • She has shed monthly for me (1/4, 2/4, 3/18, and 4/28)
  • She has STOPPED bowl wrapping and is parked exclusively on the hot side for about 6-8 weeks now


I told another buddy about my conversation with Corey and showed him the picture and he said that was typical pre-lay behavior. Then, I got curious and posted this on the ball python group on facebook and several people commented on how huge she was and one actually said she's got a female about 2 weeks away from laying that looks just like my girl. So, what are your thoughts? I was still thinking she hadn't ovied and now I'm beginning to wonder if I just missed it and she's actually due to lay at the end of the month (based on her last shed being 4/28).