I think that giving the females plenty of food and water in the fall is vital to breeding. Females lose a huge portion of their body weigh producing eggs. If the environmental conditions aren't right I feel that for their own well being they won't produce. Ask any breeder that's experienced a drought during breeding season and I bet they had a weaker year. Also, a drought means less for rodents to eat and produce so a dry fall means less meals for ball pythons and their babies in the spring. I feed heavy in the fall and make sure they always have fresh water and proper humidity. In addition, I see my snakes drink quite a bit when they are feeding strong. I can see the females behavior in the fall and pretty accurately guess who is going to produce and who won't. I remove the water bowl when my snakes are paired up as well but that's not really the point.
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