Things to know when breeding BPs?

[LGL]

1) After the male and female has mated, How many days until her pre-lay shed?

It may take multiple successful copulations before she'll ovulate and have her pre-lay shed. The pre-lay shed should take place roughly 16 days after ovulation.

2) After her pre-lay shed, should I put in an egg box in her enclosure and with what substrate should I have in that egg box and how many days until I will see eggs?

Expect to see eggs about 26-30 days after her pre-lay shed. Some females will lay about a week before or after that time frame too, so be prepared ahead of time. Some people use a small egg-laying tub for their females. I don't use one, but if you do decide to use one you can fill it with damp sphagnum moss. It can't hurt to add an egg-laying tub inside her enclosure.

3) What type of substrate should I use in her enclosure during the mating and throughout the entire time she is gravid until she lays the eggs?

I don't see a need to switch her substrate during the breeding season. Use what works for you: Unprinted Newspaper, Aspen, Cypress Mulch, etc.

4) What size plastic container (and what brand) should I use for the eggs, and how many inches of substrate (hatch-right) should I put in the plastic container?

A 6qt - 12qt (depending on clutch size) Sterilite or Rubbermaid tub can be used for the eggs. I would fill the container about 1/3 - 1/2 full with the incubation medium (in this case Hatch Rite).

5) How many days until the eggs hatch?

Eggs generally hatch in 58-60 days depending on the incubation temperature. They'll begin pipping around day 55-57 and then sit in the egg absorbing their yolk before they hatch.

6) If anyone can show me pictures or tell me (or both!) how to make your own incubator I would much appreciate it! I want the eggs to have a nice incubator, not one that's cruddy and not that great.

You may want to ask Jake Wallace (username PythonWallace). I hear he has some amazing homemade incubators.

7) What substrate should I use for the baby BPs when I put them in a new enclosure?

I would use damp paper towels until they have their first shed. After that, choose whatever (safe) substrate works best for you. Unprinted Newspaper, Aspen, Cypress Mulch, etc.

8) Do I need hides, water dishes, decor plants & sticks, and things like that in their new enclosure?

Each baby should have two identical hides (one on the warm side of the enclosure and one on the cool side) and a water bowl.

9) When should I feed the babies, and how many days after they have hatched will they shed?

They should shed in 7-15 days after they hatch. You can offer the babies fuzzy rats or hopper mice to start with. I generally offer hatchlings a fuzzy rat as their first meal and those that refuse are then offered hopper mice the next week.

Definitions:
1) Follicles

"One of the small ovarian sacs containing an immature ovum." - Follicles develop until they reach a certain size. At that time, ovulation occurs and they become eggs.

2) Ovulation

"To produce and discharge eggs from an ovary or ovarian follicle." - When the follicles become eggs. The female will have a huge swelling 3/4 of the way down her body for 24-48 hours. The fact that she looks like she swallowed a football or a jumbo rat yet has been off feed will give you a clue that eggs are on the way. Sometimes building is mistaken for an ovulation, but trust me, an ovulation is HUGE.


Hopefully that helps some.

EDIT: My poor slow typing skills when I've had little sleep are killing me. It looks like Colin beat me to it big time. Maybe I shouldn't have spent the time to go all fancy with the quotes... Good job Colin!