Tail wagging good or bad ? I would say good so far

[WingedWolfPsion]

This scent-marking behavior is done to spread pheromones around that a male snake can detect and follow. Likewise, when males tail-wag, they are advertising to other males that there is competition in the area, and to females that there's a guy around looking for them.

A female snake ready to breed tail-wags to spread her scent so a male can find her more easily. These pheromones also trigger his instincts so he will succeed in mating with them.

[irishanaconda]

here is a quote from mr big guns himself ....
"It usually means somebody is not in the mood to breed, but not always. Just keep an eye on them if you are breeding. If you see nothing in a few days, wait a little longer to try and breed them"
it seems every one has a different opinion. ne one else care to chime in? snakesrkewl, did u get ne one to call u back?

[BAD Morphs]

From experience with my own snakes so far is all the females that have tail wagged so far have bred. My male bino tail wags sometimes and he has not gotten any action yet but he tries! LOL

[snakesRkewl]

snakesrkewl, did u get ne one to call u back?

I left a message on their reptilegeeks, usually I get a response fairly quickly, I will call them tomorrow if I don't get a reply tonight.

[CritterVet]

Actually just watching my snakes tells me what is up.

They also do it when the male isn't in the tub, running around scenting up the place, causing general havoc(water bowls are in danger) and "hunting" for a male.

So scenting, tail wagging and organ dragging is now a sign of stress? During breeding season?

I'm not looking for an argument or to change your mind, I just don't believe tail wagging has anything to do with stress when it is breeding season and a male is introduced.

Just my .02

Off to watch more videos of tail wagging, peace....

Breeding is a stressful time for animals! In most the animal kingdom, it's not about fun & games.

[snakesRkewl]

Breeding is a stressful time for animals! In most the animal kingdom, it's not about fun & games.

It's funny that smaller balls don't display the tail wagging at all, yet it's stress that makes the breeding ones wag?

The tail waggin little ones do is similar to a rattle snake shaking it's tail, it is not a sweeping motion with organs out.

Wingedwolfpsion said it exactly as I have read it many places, and have has it described to me by numerous breeders, I just won't quote anyone without their permission.

The tail wagging, tail swishing the OP mentioned during breeding has zero to do with stress(IMO)

[irishanaconda]

It's funny that smaller balls don't display the tail wagging at all, yet it's stress that makes the breeding ones wag?

The tail waggin little ones do is similar to a rattle snake shaking it's tail, it is not a sweeping motion with organs out.

Wingedwolfpsion said it exactly as I have read it many places, and have has it described to me by numerous breeders, I just won't quote anyone without their permission.

The tail wagging, tail swishing the OP mentioned during breeding has zero to do with stress(IMO)

i have also talked to many breeders, i am friends with quite a few of them and talk over the phone on a regular basis and i get the oppisite answers. did u get a answer back by chance?

[snakesRkewl]

i have also talked to many breeders, i am friends with quite a few of them and talk over the phone on a regular basis and i get the oppisite answers. did u get a answer back by chance?

With all of the large scale breeders that frequent this forum, I really wish more would be adding info to the topic?
I did not get a chance to speak to them*migraine day : (*
I seem to find way more post all over the net leaning my direction, but seriously, more input is needed here on the post, not on my phone.
I'm trying as much as anything, to educate myself and anyone else on this topic, since we've got it rolling.
The info on the web and in forums seems to lean towards scenting, which I do not believe is being done to ward of males, but to attract them.
Hatchlings don't do it, sub adults don't do it, at least I've not seen one do it.
Only adults.
I'd think if tail swishing and scenting was a stress thing, they'd do it much younger than they do, but I've never seen it in a ball python too young to breed.

[angllady2]

This is a bit off topic, but my big female BP always wagged her tail a little bit when I fed her. It always reminded me of a cat. I never knew they did that until her.

She would coil herself up to strike, and her tail would begin to wag slowly back and forth, just like a cat about to pounce. When she hit the mouse, it would stop. The next mouse would start it all over again. The only time she did it was during feeding, we always fed her live.

So, could it have been stress? Was she seeing food and thinking something else? I always thought she just liked to do it.

Gale

[irishanaconda]

i have also had a young female that wagged, the same mojo... she first started about 600g.