Quote Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion View Post
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.