First Time Breeding, What Am I Forgetting?

[MrsNaCl]

I plan on breeding this year and it will be my first attempt. I have been doing research and such to make sure everything is ready to go. Unfortunately I suffer from terrible anxiety and don't wanna mess it up, by not doing something right.
I have a modest collection of BP's and only one normal female at just under 2000g, I am planning on pairing her with a mojave albino or an enchi OD as back up. [I ran the outcomes already on MM, so I know what to expect.] I have been cooling them since November. I have my reptibator, perilite and tupperware for eggs, about 15 6qt tubs, getting in a F/T pinkie order by the end of the month, and here's where I feel like I'm forgetting stuff. I won't pair until I know I got it all right.

Help please? TIA

[Snow Balls]

In my opinion I would upgrade to a better incubator. I’m not saying you won’t be successful but I’ve heard reptibators are not all that reliable. I would also order fuzzys not pinkies. Pinkies are to small for hatchling ball pythons, I would also order a few mouse hoppers to go along with the fuzzies. Sometimes they won’t always take rats right away


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[MrsNaCl]

In my opinion I would upgrade to a better incubator. I’m not saying you won’t be successful but I’ve heard reptibators are not all that reliable. I would also order fuzzys not pinkies. Pinkies are to small for hatchling ball pythons, I would also order a few mouse hoppers to go along with the fuzzies. Sometimes they won’t always take rats right away


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Thank you! For now I'm sticking with the incubator just cause hubby got it for me as a present and I don't wanna hurt his feelings. I'm also just dipping my toes in to get a feel if this is something I want to do long term. I appreciate the advice on the fuzzys and hoppers {a good chunk of the stuff I had read said pinkies} I'll be redoing my cart!

[Lord Sorril]

Help please?

Greetings!
Everyone has their own method of breeding ball pythons. There is definitely a learning curve involved.

Based on your description, a few things I would do:
1. Not cool my breeders, ball pythons don't need it...and other than saving electricity there is no obvious advantage (however, there are in other species). I would bring my ambient temps back up to a solid 80F 24/7.
2. Pair NOW. Don't wait. It is not an exact science and you don't want to miss your window of opportunity because your female grew follicles early.
3. Get a digital thermometer with a probe to eventually cross-check your Reptibator temp. controller (when in use). Reptibators were notorious several years ago for telling you one temp. and having another.
4. Decide on a place to put the incubator where the temps. are stable day/night vs. heat and cold.
5. Prior to use: Disinfect your incubator with 70% IPA and paper towels and let it air dry, use only distilled water for humidity (said the Microbiologist).
6. If you notice your male and female 'squabble' when you pair them together: It would be a good idea to confirm the sex of your female (I recommend probing larger specimens). It would be disappointing to breed only one female and find out at the end of the season that you have been raising an unusually large male.
7. Start saving fresh sheds from your males and tossing the alternate males shed into the females enclosure prior to pairing.
8. Mojave Albino Male or Enchi OD x Normal: Using these two males: Be prepared for the possibility to identify split clutch offspring.
9. Be prepared for the possibility that your female will not lay this year. I have more than one female at 5+ years (4000+ grams) that have not produced a single clutch, it is an exception, but, it does happen and it is annoying.

Best of Luck!

[bcr229]

F/T pinkies, whether mouse or rat, are too small for a neonate unless you get a runt or perhaps twins. Either get mouse hoppers or rat fuzzies. You should also have a local reliable source of live feeders as not all neonates will take f/t readily.

Set up and test your incubator to make sure it works and holds temp & humidity correctly.

[MrsNaCl]

Thanks Everyone!! I'll start pairing today!! Both males shed recently so i'm in luck! I'll be sanitizing and getting the incubator in check as well. So nice to get help without heckling like on FB (yikes haha).

[Bogertophis]

Thanks Everyone!! I'll start pairing today!! Both males shed recently so i'm in luck! I'll be sanitizing and getting the incubator in check as well. So nice to get help without heckling like on FB (yikes haha).

For sure....this is a "no-heckle-zone"-

[SS snakes]

F/T pinkies, whether mouse or rat, are too small for a neonate unless you get a runt or perhaps twins. Either get mouse hoppers or rat fuzzies. You should also have a local reliable source of live feeders as not all neonates will take f/t readily.

Set up and test your incubator to make sure it works and holds temp & humidity correctly.

I'd like to second this regarding the live feeder source. I know of some breeders who have tried to have the patience to get all their hatchlings started on F/T, but needed to use live for the first few meals. I often find that after you have them established and feeding regularly (IMO after 5 meals) thats a good place to start trying f/t.

Good luck with your first pairing, i'd echo what others above have said. Don't be too upset if your female doesn't go this year, as no matter how much research we do or think we understand them, they'll only go when they want to.