Can you breed any time of the year successfully?

[Robyn@SYR]

Females are viable to breed when they have appropriately sized follicles. Most Ball python females will start cycling in the winter and spring months, but others will cycle at other times of the year.

Using an ultrasound helps to measure follicle size and find this window of viability.

If a female is going to develop follicles in July, it isn't going to do any good to pair her up in January.

Pairing Balls up year round "just in case" causes stress issues and can affect appetite, health and growth. You really only want to pair the female up when she is viable.

We have had eggs laid in December, and in January. As well as every month in between. Most clutches are laid during the typical season, but given a large enough sample, you can see clutches year round. That doesn't mean you can force a female that might normally cycle in an off month, like October, and get her to cycle in March, it just means you have to catch her in October, and get the pairing done.

Males can breed year round, but that is also a physical drain. You have to make sure they stay well fed, and don't literally burn themselves out. I have had a male that breeds 10 different females one season, really any cycling female you put him with, and then the following season breed exactly zero. Just no interest. Not sure if that is male cycling, or he was just wore out.

It is all one big match game- willing male with viable female, at whatever time of the year that is : )