Alright time to send this female to the belt factory...

[SlitherinSisters]

I guess if you want to give this female one more chance, pair her with a different male and see what happens. Sometimes there's just that tiniest percentage of a chance in nature (not just snakes) that the combination of sire and dam will cause a problem with the offspring.

I was thinking about that, I just wasn't sure how much I wanted to try again. I have 15 females that will be ready to breed this winter and I really do need to start getting rid of some of my normals.

If you're already in a position of wanting to thin out your normal females anyhow, I don't see any value in continuing to breed her.

She's a pretty girl and will make a lovely pet for someone. If I were in your shoes, I would sell her as a "pet only" and explain to anyone buying her that she has a strong history of throwing deformed babies. If someone else buys her and tries to breed her, then that is on them. But hopefully she'd end up in a caring home and live the life of ball python luxury.

That's a good point. I think I will sell her as a pet only with a disclaimer. You are very right, if they breed her knowing the issues I've had and they have the same issues they can't complain. She's an older girl, 8 years old, and I definitely want her to go to a good home. She's a good snake, just not a good breeder.

If it's the same male, do a rigorous pairing with a multitude of other males excluding the male who keeps taking and see what comes up. It could be her and that male together throwing the problems, some how wildly closely related?

Very true. I just don't know that I want to take the time again. I have a lot of other girls to breed this winter and I've been planning to thin down the herd. I have 7 normal females right now. Her and one other female are on the list to be sold, I just haven't made the final decision. It's kind of hard to get rid of these girls, I've had them for years!

They shouldn't be related, but anything is possible. I honestly don't know where this girl came from, she went through several hands before she got to me. I am at least the 3rd owner.