Breeding female not eating

[Blubb]

my female just stop eating been pairing her up since early Nov.

Yeah, it happens to the most of the breeders. Someone once told me that females will eat more than ever when breeding. Hm...

[Annarose15]

Someone once told me that females will eat more than ever when breeding. Hm...

Again, it all depends on your female. And for that matter, she may not act the same way next year. Last year, both of my girls went off feed in September/October, and both laid healthy clutches. This year, one has been off since Oct, but the other is still pounding rats, and both are glowing (right on schedule).

[Blubb]

Again, it all depends on your female. And for that matter, she may not act the same way next year.

Okay, I first thought that was a "rule" that females eat anything when breeding, to help the follicles to grow.

Thanks everyone for helping me out ! Please keep in mind that this is my first clutch

[Dave Green]

In my experience females will eat strong during the fall and winter while breeding. They then suddenly stop and ovulate a few weeks later. I'm sure there are exceptions but it's almost a rule here.

[Anna.Sitarski]

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.

Now this was really useful thanks! I have a couple yearling females that are always piggy eaters and all of sudden in the past month have stopped. Worried me a bit, and now I know. Puberty. So I guess next the slam the tub door and tell me they hate me?

And my breeding girl went off feed and took live twice in two months and then in the last week took 2 small rats with a vengeance. So they have their own ideas. Unless she is looking ill I would not worry. Some girls eat some girls don't.

[Blubb]

Further on I will start breeding at 1700-1800 grams, just to make sure she could handle some months off feed. After all, I want healthy breeders and hatchlings.

[snakesRkewl]

Yeah, it happens to the most of the breeders. Someone once told me that females will eat more than ever when breeding. Hm...

Someone was right

My females get offered large weanlings and small rats every 3-4 days in Sept/Oct/Nov and most will eat every time offered during that period.
I then back off to once a week and up the size to all small rats and maybe a few mediums for the larger girls.

Every one of my females are still eating, most have been cooling themselves and bowl wrapping, I expect in the next month or so they will start to stop eating.

I HATE females going off feed before the feed up period is over, thankfully this season every single breeding female is hammering food.

Blubb
Okay, I first thought that was a "rule" that females eat anything when breeding, to help the follicles to grow.

It takes a good amount of calcium to produce healthy eggs, if they don't eat well...slugs

[RichsBallPythons]

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.

Again, another Opinion your pushing on others snakes. 1500g is NOT the magical weight a snake is ready to breed. To say 1400g is light but add 100g which is essnetialy one meal is Spot on and ready to go.

They will breed when they are ready, if their not they wont take simple as that.

[Blubb]

My females get offered large weanlings and small rats every 3-4 days in Sept/Oct/Nov and most will eat every time offered during that period.
I then back off to once a week and up the size to all small rats and maybe a few mediums for the larger girls.

I HATE females going off feed before the feed up period is over, thankfully this season every single breeding female is hammering food.

I have heard about several breeders putting males to females all year round, does that affect the breeding result in any way? Or do ball pythons tend to breed "better" October/November? I mean, let's say my female is "ready" with weight and age in May, should I breed her or should I wait until the breeding season really starts?

Also, should I offer my female more meals about 1-2 months before I plan to breed her? I heard you do that. Thanks !!

[WingedWolfPsion]

I would be curious to see what the differences are in the setups and geographical locations of folks who successfully breed year-round, but my animals appear to know when it's autumn, and that's when they begin displaying breeding behavior. Males go off feed, and females become receptive. At other times of the year, there hasn't been any interest.
I expect that people closer to the equator, and people who have their animals on completely artificial light cycles, may have more success with year-round breeding. I use ambient light from windows for my reptile room.

Rich, you needn't take it so personally that some of us use 1500 grams as the minimum weight. I have bred a few animals that came into the breeding season at 1500 grams, and then went off feed. When they produced clutches, the results were extremely disappointing, and the females looked terrible. Your results may be different, but based on mine, I do my best to avoid breeding girls that aren't up to weight, and pull them if they go off feed at that weight.