quick question.

[Reesy]

How many times per year do ball pythons ovulate? I don't think my female took this past winter, will she cycle again this year or do I have to wait until next winter?

[Reesy]

Just thought I would bump it up and see if I can get any info from anybody.

[stratus_020202]

This is my first breeding season, but i'm fairly certian it's only once. And, she will only do it if she is sexually mature. How old is she? Do you know what she weighs? Is she in a tank/tub by herself? How often have you been pairing?

When they will ovulate is different for everyone. They can do it anytime between January and December if that helps. Lol.

[Jay_Bunny]

I don't think it would be healthy for the female to ovulate more than once a year. I know that my girl lost about 1/3 of her body weight laying eggs this season. I'd hate to see what she'd look like if she did it again this year.

If she did not ovulate this season, check for follicles (some females just take longer than others.) If you don't feel any follicles, give her a rest from the male(s) and feed her well. Give her a few months and then try again.

And again (this needs to be a bumper sticker or something) ball pythons never read the manual.

[Reesy]

She has bred before, I have had her for 2 yrs now. I paired her with multiple males all last winter with several locks. But I haven't seen an ovulation and she is not gravid at this time that I can tell. She is in a visionary with one of my males right now. He has been trying to get her to lock for a few days now but she doesn't seem to be very interested.

[Jay_Bunny]

Females will refuse a lock for various reasons. Does not mean that she won't lock next week. Have you tried palpating her (feeling for follicles)? I like to palpate throughout the breeding season because it gives me an idea of where my females are in regards to how close they are to ovulation or if they will go at all.

For example, I began breeding my normal female 11/14 (I'm pretty sure it was the 14th) and by 12/31 she had marble sized follicles. By 1/14, they had doubled in size. On 2/12 she ovulated. My pinstripe is a little more slow going. I began breeding her in December. I felt marble sized follicles on 3/28, and just today found these follicles had doubled in size. Palpating is useful. You should try it on your female and see if you feel anything. It might take you a few tries but if you can feel follicles and can guesstimate their size, you'll have a better idea of whether she will ovulate for you this year.

[Reesy]

I palpated her in February and counted 7 follicles, I just repalpated her since I read your post and nothing. She must have reabsorbed them.

[Jay_Bunny]

It is definitely possible she absorbed them. I had a female go all the way up to golf ball sized follicles and then absorb. Give her a few months off and then try again.

[Reesy]

OK, will do, Thanks for the help.