So I am a first year breeder, but a long time collector. This year I started back up collecting and have finally decided to breed.


Tonight I picked up a few new snakes, one from a friend (2200g Normal Female, with a terrible temper) and a 150g Butterfly from a breeder. I also got a Black Pewter Female that weighs about 1300g for around $100. Here's my first issue; she's been off of food for nearly seven months now. She hasn't lost any weight, she doesn't look overly unhealthy and skinny, and she is extremely active. I know some ball pythons can go over a year off of food, but are there any tricks I can try to possibly get her back to eating?

If she isn't eating, it's typically not going to happen with breeding correct?

Also, I had a lock up between my Fire Male and Super Pastel female, I've always been told to try and feed them 3-4 days after copulation. So this evening I tried to feed them and the fire took a medium rat very quickly and very aggressively but my super pastel literally showed no interest. Is this something to be super concerned with? When should I put the male back in with her to try for more lock ups?

How often should these adults be eating? I'm trying to feed my juvies weekly. I want to get my Ivory and Butterfly to breeding size ASAP. But the adults are very reluctant to eat and most the time just run away from the rat.


Lastly, just some ID pictures, I just want to make sure the snakes I got were actually what they were sold to me as.

First up is the Black Pewter:



Now the Butterfly (Butter X Fire X Pastel)






Thanks a lot everyone, I know it's a lot but I just want to make sure I'm doing everything I can my first year to make it successful and make some of my money back on rack purchases etc.