Might have been it--I read it in passing. I like the idea that the scent is enough to do the job. Ball pythons are very oriented to chemical signals. I know my males will not try to breed a female at all unless she's putting out the right scent signals.

I think I'll start keeping the males' sheds during the breeding season. I can toss parts of them into the cages with the females when the males aren't there.

It can't hurt!