First time breeding help please

[hungba]

This is my first year to breed ball pythons, and I wonder if you can help me with something regarding the male.

I have 5 females up to weight this year, and only 1 male up to weight.

The male has thus far been by FAR my best eater. He will eat anything live or F/T mice or rat.

Now, because I am going to be cooling only 6 snakes in my 12 level rack, and my rack is controlled top 6 and bottom 6 by different thermostats, I had decided to put all the snakes, male and female, of breeding weight, to the bottom 6 shelves. The top 6 will still continue to have heat tape on all day at 89F as usual, and the bottom half of breeders will have 12 hours of heat during the day, a temperature of 80 - 85F on the heat tape during the day, and no heat tape at night. The ambient temperature of the room will not be allowed to fall below 77F. I have NOT started cooling anything yet, although the ambient temperature has fallen these few days as a result of weather.

So what I did was, I switched the male, which was on a higher up level, into a tub that held a smaller female on the lower 6. The female was put into another empty shelf, and the one the male was in originally was left empty.

The male went into shed immediately. He usually eats even in shed, but not this time. Next week, off food again. Next week, off food again total 3 weeks. I've also noticed he is more often in the cool end of the enclosure.

He is plenty of weight, but I worry that something may have caused his change in behaviour. I don't know if it is good or bad, perhaps he already wants to breed and got off food? Or perhaps he is scared? Or smells the females nearby or scent left in the tub from the previous occupier?

I took the male and put him into his original tub to see if he will eat, and IMMEDIATELY, his behaviour changed. He started striking DEFENSIVELY, but not constricting nor eating. His original tub was left empty nothing had been put in there.

Now I put her back in the lower 6 shelves and added a hide (he's never needed one). I haven't tried to feed since.

Like I said I am not worried about him not eating a few weeks, that's not a big problem. But I am worried about something spooking him and he will not breed. He is the only male I have up to size and this is my first time after working all year to raise the snakes. I know sometimes they just don't breed, but if it is something that I did, I want to correct it. I don't even know if anything really is wrong, guess I am asking.

PS I may add that the female on the bottom most shelf has also gotten off feed for some reason. She is nice and fat and heavy though. The male is on the third bottom.

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One more thing, I noticed that one other female which is eating fine, that she was lying on her side? What does this mean?

Note that I have not cooled anything yet except the weather is colder for the last 2 - 3 days. Nor have I paired anything.

[Kinra]

He may just be stressed from being in the new tub, give him some time to settle in before offering him some food.

[hungba]

Well it could be, but I am surprised as he has moved tubs twice before when younger and no issues. He always ate everything never missed a meal since I got him as a baby, and its been 3 weeks since the switch.

I added a hide for him, is that a good or bad idea?

Another thing I noticed was that one of the females today before I fed her was lying on her side on her back half?? I read that when they do that it is already too late to breed?? But I haven't even cooled anything yet, the weather got colder and thus ambient temps fell a little over the last 2 - 3 days. I was going to start cooling this week as most start that beginning of November. Or could it be a one time thing that she did that? I thought you supposed to cycle their temps gradually for a month before even pairing?

[Mike41793]

Sometimes males get focused on breeding and wont eat.

If given the option which would YOU choose? lol

[hungba]

Sometimes males get focused on breeding and wont eat.

If given the option which would YOU choose? lol

But I haven't paired anything yet. He hasn't seen a female yet. Nor have I cooled anything down yet, except the last few days the weather is colder. The tub switch and off feed is 3 weeks now. Also what's with the female on her side?

If he does indeed want to breed now, should I start pairing already? Do I remove the hides from the females before pairing?

And to answer your question, the choice depends on the girl and the food being offered.

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Oh man I feel like such a noob! LOL

[satomi325]

But I haven't paired anything yet. He hasn't seen a female yet. Nor have I cooled anything down yet, except the last few days the weather is colder. The tub switch and off feed is 3 weeks now. Also what's with the female on her side?

If he does indeed want to breed now, should I start pairing already? Do I remove the hides from the females before pairing?

And to answer your question, the choice depends on the girl and the food being offered.

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Oh man I feel like such a noob! LOL

Balls don't need a cool down period to breed so the scent of the females in the room in addition to the general seasonal change(ambient temp and weather) is probably what's triggering his behavior change. Rain and low pressure makes them frisky.

If you want, you can go ahead and try putting him in with a female.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[hungba]

Balls don't need a cool down period to breed so the scent of the females in the room in addition to the general seasonal change(ambient temp and weather) is probably what's triggering his behavior change. Rain and low pressure makes them frisky.

If you want, you can go ahead and try putting him in with a female.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Thanks for the help!

1) I have two questions. Because that male and another female went off feed, and I thought it should be cooled before breeding, I put hides in their boxes tonight. They had no hides before. Is that a bad idea? Should I remove them? Should I remove the hides when I pair them?

2) As I said before, I put the male back in its original tub today and he freaked out and struck the rat defensively. He was calm before but just went off feed. He seems agitated with what I did today. Should I let him calm down a few days before doing anything? Or did I even ruin my chances?

I am sorry that I am such a noob, this is the first time I'm doing this.

[Jester]

I'm getting ready to start my pairings. Is there a recommended temp to drop by. I've looked and can't tell as to what it needs to be.