Macklots Breeding?

[PythonGuy24]

Hi I'm looking into breeding Macklots pythons and was wondering how it's done. I've read things on how it's done but they weren't to clear. I know I have a mature male and female. Also I was wondering what the signs are of a gravid female. Thanks in advace.

	Gravid Gravid term used in biology to describe the condition of a female oviparous when carrying young internally.

[telefrag]

I had the pleasure of breeding macklots pythons from 96-2000

Basically all I did was feed the female very heavily in the late summer, than around november, I shut off the heat every night for both the male and the female.
After a few weeks of that, I would put them together for brief periods (overnight, to 2 days) on and off for a few weeks.

Once I noticed the female being almost irritated by the males presence, I would cease introductions, then usually she would slow down on food intake, or only take small to medium rats. I never witnessed ovulation, but about a month after the last introduction, I would put a good sized nest box (large rubbermaid container with a hole just big enough for her to get in and out) and fillled it almost all the way with damp sphagnum moss, and usually about 3-5 weeks later I would get anywhere from 10 to 18 eggs.
After 60-70 days of incubation at 91 degrees and 98% humidity, I had 75% hatch rate the first year, and 100% the 3 years after.

let me know if you have any specific questions.
macklotts are still one of my favorite pythons.

[PythonGuy24]

That's the info I wanted to hear. I looked everywhere and found nothing. My male is my favorite snake of all time. My dad bought him for me when I was twelve because I got stright As in 6th grade. I'm fairly new to the reptile business (started in 2000, that's when I was responsible enough to keep an anole, I was 10, I am now 15), Have they been big on the market yet or are they still yet to come or do you think they will never bloom. I own two. My male I spoke of earlier, and the baby I bought a month or so ago. I love em. Thanks for the reply. That was the second one I've posted and thought I wouldn't ever get one.

[telefrag]

not to discourage you from breeding them, but I found there was virtually NO market for them.

Every year I bred them, I would have most of the previous years babies still, and would end up having 30-40 macklotts pythons at one time.

Finally I had to sell them in bulk for 15$ each.

I would sell a few here and there, but they are far from being a "hot" item.

I wouldnt hold your breath on them breaking big into the herp scene either, they are just one of those niche herps that only a few people really enjoy.

Just keep them and do what you want, dont decide not to keep something because it has no real market value.

there is nothing cooler than a bunch of little macklott heads poking out of eggs though.

I always loved that.

[PythonGuy24]

Bummer. That's the main thing I wanted to see in the morning. The satisfaction ya know. It wasn't to make money. I'd sell 'em for 5$ if I had to.

[telefrag]

Originally Posted by PythonGuy24

Bummer. That's the main thing I wanted to see in the morning. The satisfaction ya know. It wasn't to make money. I'd sell 'em for 5$ if I had to.

well, you'll do just fine then.

the babies were always pretty easy to start out.

For me, I had about 99% of them start taking f/t pink mice after their first shed.

they are a bit nippy, and very fiesty the first 6-9 months, but mellow out after that (sometimes)

If you get fertile eggs and it looks like they will hatch, you may want to get in contact with a jobber, or dealer who has a good presence in the herp world, and just sell all the babies in one shot to one person for a reduced price.
you may not get much for them,
but that way you dont sit on them for months and months and months (or years ) feeding them and housing them.


good luck!

	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.