Maternal incubation or artificial incubation for first time breeding?

[AlyssaLu]

This will be my first time breeding and I can't deicide on which incubation method to use, my female is a big girl, around 2,500 g (estimate) so that's why I would potentially let her incubate her own eggs.
However, I do want a successful incubation process, so I'm just wondering about you all's opinions. Thank you

Also! If you have any tips you want to share to a first time breeder, by all means! I'd appreciate it.

[enginee837]

If done correctly, artificial incubation will give you better results. The female has a faster recovery time and in my experience you get higher hatch rates if you have a good incubator and can monitor and control temp and humidity accurately. With that said, ball pythons have been incubating their own eggs long before we started getting in the way. I would just ask yourself what it is you want to get out of it. If you are interested in seeing how she does it, then go for it. If you plan on breeding more in the future, invest in to good incubator and use it.

[piedlover79]

I feel like maternal incubation is a more advanced method than incubator. The conditions need to be 'just right' and that can be harder to control in the female's environment. I would recommend incubator for a first time breeder.