Breeding female not eating

[Blubb]

I have been breeding my two ball pythons since November, but these last 5-6 weeks my female refuses to eat. I have heard about males stop eating, but not females. Does this mean I should stop breeding until she starts eat again, because she was about 1400-1500grams when I first started?

I have seen atleast 3 locks, but no ovulation. Oh yes, my male is pounding every rat I give him. Isn't this weird or what?

[Christopher De Leon]

Sounds normal. Breeding females will go off feed. Sometimes theyll even stop eating til they finally lay their clutch.

My pastel male has been breeding four females since early october and has not refused a meal yet. Rather male or female, feed em if thell eat it!

All your signs are in the green. Goodluck!

[Blubb]

Okay, thank you so much ! I will continue offer food once a week, maybe she will target one eventually She atleast show some interest when I try to feed her.

Is there any point, other than ovulation, where I should remove her from breeding?

How many locks should it take until she will ovulate? I thought she was gravid when she was glowing like never before. Oh well...

Thanks again !

[Christopher De Leon]

My girls, when off feed...will sometimes still show a slight interest in eating. Like an unsuccessful strike, or theyll even constrict and kill but still wont eat. Its all good.

Other than ovy, or an illness(RI or something) i dont see any reason to quit pairing.

Ive read if she starts glowing, shell probably continue to glow until ovy. I have two girls glowing right now,ovy should be soon.

[BPNoobie]

What if she strikes more than once, but doesn't attempt to constrict? And as far I know, hasn't bred. Was housed with a male for 3 years though so it's completely possible they locked before I got them.

[Christopher De Leon]

Yeah, if she was housed with a male they could have previously locked...possible sperm retention also.

Even if she strikes more than once, it could still just be defensive. I think if shes hungry and means business, she'll get the job done and eat.

[Blubb]

Ovy means ovulation right?

If she glows or "shine" more than she are used to, does that mean anything about breeding or something? Like she is ready to be bred? I mean, she should be because she is about 1400grams and 3 years old.

How long time does it normaly take for a female to ovulate from the moment I introduce the male to her? It has been about 2 mounths now, and all I have seen is a couple of locks. I have no patience anymore, I want eggs now !

[Christopher De Leon]

Yes, ovy=ovulation.

If shes up to age, weight, and has been locking and glowing then ovulation should be soon. Cant say for certain how soon. Once ovulation occurs, she will go through her post ovy shed, and then after post ovy shed you can expect eggs (about) 30 days or so later. Depends on the female.

Also, theres no set amount of locks required for ovulation to occur. Actually, all it takes is one successful lock. One lock is all she COULD need to retain sperm, ovy, and produce a fertile clutch.

Patience is a viture. I know your anxious and excited, we all get that way. But keep in mind, you cant always speed nature up. Try to think of it like this, the longer she takes to ovy and lay her clutch, the more she has time to build you big beautiful eggs full of big healthy babies.

[Scaleyz]

Hey, so you have no patience, well unfortunately you gotta have some. I have been waiting since last year for this one female of mine she held onto the sperm plugs and never produced. I'm hoping withing the next 11-21 or so days giver take a week or so these things take time.

Patience you better have, and locks well my 2 females this season locked I'd say over 10x's each atleast and I still won't say for sure I'm GOING to have lil ones. I'm hoping. I did see the OVY(ovulation) one was very dramatic the other not so much. The not so much female is the one thats huge now and the other one is the one I'm questioning. So its not an exact science.

Good luck!

[WingedWolfPsion]

Females should be at least 1500 grams to be bred. 1400 is on the light side, and I would not have bred her at that size, personally. If she's gone off feed now, I would stop pairing her. If you get a clutch from her, it's likely to be 4 undersized eggs, if anything, and she'll be worn out and skinny as a rail from it. It will stunt her growth.
She may decide to lay eggs anyhow, but no sense in encouraging it at this point.

Most females reach 1500 grams in 3 years, but some are poor eaters, and don't. Best to give them 1 more year. Remember that breeding animals need more nutrition than pets--larger prey items, more often. A breeding female should be eating medium rats weekly, or small rats every 5 days, when she is interested in eating.

Occasionally some ball pythons are just tiny and never do get to the usual size for females, but at least 4 years gives them ample time to achieve maturity.

Young females between 1000 and 1500 grams will often go off feed over the winter...this is essentially 'puberty'. These girls tend to start eating again in the spring with interest, and then breed the following year.