Locking up even after ovulation

[Sevo]

Not for sure if some of my girls are ovualting. They look like they are in the early stages but they are sill locking up. I have heard some say they will not lock after ovulation, have any of you noticed that your will lock even if ovulating???

Chris

[fishmommy]

YEAH BABY, YEAH!


just kidding. I don't know the answer but it struck me funny

[Adam_Wysocki]

I've never seen it ... after ovulation there's really no point of even putting the males with the females ... the eggs are already fertilized.

I'm guessing here, but what you're probably seeing is "building" of follicles ... it's a long process that is most pronounced several weeks prior to ovulation ... this is the most critical time for males and females to copulate and copulations should be frequent during this time.

Ovulation itself is a quick event that lasts 24 hours and is most visible for 12 of those 24.

I suppose that a very agressive male and a very submissive female might "lock" after the female ovulates, but I don't think it's very likely.

Hope this helps.

-adam

[Sevo]

Adam,
Yeah I am not sure of what I am seeing as this is my first year... . I am sure I am seeing the building as you are talking about. So i guess I will need to keep at it then with him.

How can you tell the difference between ovulating and building. I have one female that is huge and I thought it was ovulation but you have me second guessing myself now...
She looks like she ate a coke can. Should I keep putting males with her as well??

The other pairs that are building I will keep putting the males with them for sure then. they are loking up like crazy.. the male is in there 20 min and they are locked. Should i just keep cycling the male back with them until they stop locking???

I really appreicate the information on that. I guess I need to be putting him in there more then.

This first year is a HUGE learning curve for me. it can make you second guess everything you think you know or what you think you are seeing


thanks again for your help, let me know what you think

[Adam_Wysocki]

Since this is your first year and you're just getting used to the ins and outs of tricky female ball pythons, the best advice I can give is to keep on pairing up until the females are no longer receptive ... as long as that takes ... you'll get eggs.

The difference between "building" and ovulation is difficult to explain in words, but once you see them both you'll know for sure ... When females are "building" they look like they are gaining weight all over but when you hang then vertically out of their tubs you'll see a baseball sized lump mid way to 5/8th's of the way down their bodies ... if you run your fingers under their bellies and apply some pressure, you might even be able to feel the follicles (the process of palpating) ... Ovulation on the other hand, make the female look like someone stuff an oversized nerf football inside the girls ... it's a HUGE oblong lump that stretches a good lenght of the girl body ... they almost look like they are teetering on the lump ... it's hard to miss and within 24 hours they go back to normal.

Hope this helps ... let me know if you have more questions ... as always, anything I can do to help you've got it!

Sounds like you're well on your way to a great first year ... congrats!

-adam

[Sevo]

it's a HUGE oblong lump that stretches a good lenght of the girl body ... they almost look like they are teetering on the lump ... it's hard to miss and within 24 hours they go back to normal.

Hope this helps ... let me know if you have more questions ... as always, anything I can do to help you've got it!

Sounds like you're well on your way to a great first year ... congrats!

-adam

Adam,
Well I guess I will do as you said and just keep adding the males. .. what a huge learning curve this is. You can read and read and read and loko at many pictures, but until you do it you have no idea what the hell is going on.

I really appreciate the support and comments. I will see I guess. I hope it turns out ok. If not I am sure learning a ton. I just finished the incubator and now i guess I will just wait it out.

I really appreciate your help .... thank you

[Adam_Wysocki]

Adam,
Well I guess I will do as you said and just keep adding the males. .. what a huge learning curve this is. You can read and read and read and loko at many pictures, but until you do it you have no idea what the hell is going on.

I really appreciate the support and comments. I will see I guess. I hope it turns out ok. If not I am sure learning a ton. I just finished the incubator and now i guess I will just wait it out.

I really appreciate your help .... thank you

Learning curve is right! ... I produced my first ball eggs over a decade ago and every year these animals teach me something new ... hang in there, it only gets easier after the first year is under your belt ... sounds like you're doing great so far!

Keep us posted on your progress!!!

-adam