breeding problems

[don15681]

I don't understand why you're asking for help if you have a friend close by that been breeding ball pythons for 20 years?

[angllady2]

I agree the temps are almost certainly too high. I don't change the temps of my heat tape ever, but because I live in MO the weather changes and so my ambient temps do as well. Even my very first year I had locks, and I had no clue what I was doing at first. If your climate doesn't change like mine does, it might be necessary to change your temps on a set schedule.

I find it really hard to understand you haven't had any locks ever, something must be very wrong for that to happen. You don't specify when you pair your snakes. Is there a certain time of year you try, or have you tried at different times of the year to see if that was the reason ?

I understand what works for someone else may not work for you, so I hope we can help you figure this out.

Gale

[ladizzle]

I don't understand why you're asking for help if you have a friend close by that been breeding ball pythons for 20 years?

because he is the one that told me to put the temps that high. idkk I needed another opinion after 2 years of not getting any locks or anything.

[ladizzle]

I agree the temps are almost certainly too high. I don't change the temps of my heat tape ever, but because I live in MO the weather changes and so my ambient temps do as well. Even my very first year I had locks, and I had no clue what I was doing at first. If your climate doesn't change like mine does, it might be necessary to change your temps on a set schedule.

I find it really hard to understand you haven't had any locks ever, something must be very wrong for that to happen. You don't specify when you pair your snakes. Is there a certain time of year you try, or have you tried at different times of the year to see if that was the reason ?

I understand what works for someone else may not work for you, so I hope we can help you figure this out.

Gale

well I have just being doing it continuously all year long because I didn't know when it was going to happen since I had the temps the same all year long.

[joebad976]

because he is the one that told me to put the temps that high. idkk I needed another opinion after 2 years of not getting any locks or anything.

There are a bunch of breeders in South Florida that you can ask. I am 4 hours north of you and I cool mine. Especially this year as the winter was very warm so I can only imagine your temps were even warmer.

Look up Amir from yellowbellyball.com and give him a call he may be able to give you some better advice based on being in Sfl. Good luck

[ladizzle]

There are a bunch of breeders in South Florida that you can ask. I am 4 hours north of you and I cool mine. Especially this year as the winter was very warm so I can only imagine your temps were even warmer.

Look up Amir from yellowbellyball.com and give him a call he may be able to give you some better advice based on being in Sfl. Good luck

lol I know Amir personally. but I wanted to get a different opinion.

[joebad976]

lol figures.....well I cool mine. Starting oct 15 hot spot 82 during day and drop to 78 at night. Do this up until Marc 15 then bring hotspot to constant 82. During the warmer months I run off ambient temps no hotspot.

Can't guarantee this will work for you but it works well for me.

[hondo1967]

try leaving the male in 4 days my stubborn ball pythons often lock up the 4th day

[ClarkT]

I'm betting that you're not hitting them at the right time of year. Males (in my little experience) seem to not want to continuously breed. Mine tend to get back to breeding after they have had a month or so break. Females will build follicles at all times of the year.

I don't bother with cooling or cycling temps for mine, either. I would suggest you just keep the females well fed and watch for building behavior. When they start bowl wrapping, introduce the male. Try the 4 days on, 6 days off. Watch for the bowl wrapping; pigging out; cool seeking; scenting; tail wagging; etc...then pair them. Pairing them before any follicle growth just tends to lead to frustration.

Good luck!

[ladizzle]

okay so I decided to look at my biggest female which is about 4,000 grams and she looks huge and she was wrapped around her bowl. does anyone else see anything that I don't?