Getting into this wonderful hobby! Breeding Questions

[CTWalker]

Hello everyone! I've been getting into this wonderful reptile hobby for a few years now and have come here for some answers/understanding on if I am doing this whole thing right (breeding these wonderful snakes that is).

I have several BPs, about five or so months ago I acquired a big normal female to start my breeding expedition with. The rest of my BPs are young except one Lesser female that's about a year and a half and hovering just over 600 grams, a 650 gram Pinstripe male, and a 450 gram Lesser/Mojave BEL male. I've been reading everything I can get my hands on about these animals and really pay attention when it comes to the information on breeding them. I just wanted to ask some personal opinions from those that have been there and done that in the industry!

The big female I have is almost 2000 grams, almost 4 foot long and has laid eggs before according to the man I bought her from. She had last year off so she is ready to go. She's in a 41qt tub in a rack with the thermostat set to 92.5 degrees, which the temp gun registers at about 90 to 90.5 degrees on the bare plastic under the bedding (I use aspen). The cool side is around 80 to 83 degrees depending on if I have the fan on or not. She slams live rats and would continue to eat until she couldn't move if she had her way.

The males are kept in the same rack up top, same temps, same bedding, in 32qt tubs. Both are excellent eaters and shed great.

It's my understanding that I'm to start lowering the nighttime temps to around 85 degrees to get them ready for breeding. Some sources say that I should do this as I introduce the male and female and some say I should do this for several months before I introduce them.

Also I've read that I can start introducing the male in November through springtime. The male can stay in for 3 days, or until a lock is witness and he's done, and then removed for several days before being thrown back in again with food being offered as normal if he will take it.

I have concerns of course. Like...how do I know a male is ready to breed. It's not like the horses I have where the stallions are very obviously ready to go or even any other mammal. How do you know when a male is ready to start making babies? I've read about sperm plugs and everything else but I don't feel like I should be popping him often and bothering him in that way.

Another concern is, what if the female decides that the male looks pretty tasty or wants to just kill him? Has anyone had experience with this? I feed 2 times a week for my younger snakes and once a week for my males and the big female, but what if she just doesn't want any part of them? I'm more worried about having a dead snake due to introducing them incorrectly than I do not having babies. I know it's a risk we all take, I'm just looking for some comments and personal experiences here. Does anyone watch their snakes to make sure everything is going well? Watching as in, checking on them without disturbing them?

I want any and all information you all can give me. I'm very willing to learn and if I need to add more information please tell me and I will do my best to give you what I have Thank you for looking and have a great day!