For all those ball python breeders out there...

JennC · #1 (**permalink**) 12-19-2005, 11:19 PM

My big girl, 3.5ft and about 1360-1370 grams has been cooling the past 1.5-2 months.
Someone told me that when they are geting ready to want to breed, they will produce "folicles". Is this true? And if it is, what do they look like? My girl has been producing urates alot more often lately, i jsut wanted to get some facts about these "folicles"

Thanks

JennC · #2 (**permalink**) 12-20-2005, 08:05 AM

*bump*

Intention · #3 (**permalink**) 12-20-2005, 08:44 AM

I hope you don't plan on breeding her. She is much too small to even consider being bred. Is this her 2nd winter or 3rd? I would wait until she is at least 1500g or more. Going by the 500g/ft rule, she would need to be 1750g right now at 3.5ft to successully produce follicles, breed and lay eggs.

Follicles are on the INSIDE of the snake and have to be felt. They are what will eventually be eggs if they are fertilized by the male.

I plan on waiting until my girl, who is now in her 2nd winter as a July '04 baby and is 42-45" long and 1200g, is at least 2500-3000g before I even attempt to breed her. Breeding is a very stressful event on the female's body and if they are too small, they won't produce many or any follicles, which will result in a small or poor clutch.

Why not wait until she is bigger and then it won't be as much of a toll on her body. Is there a rush? Please think of the health and well-being of the animal before trying to breed her. BTW, what are you cooling her at? Anything below 80 and you're looking at a respiratory infection...

JennC · #4 (**permalink**) 12-20-2005, 10:59 AM

Shes at 82, just a little bit below her normal temps.

From all the other high end breeders I talked with, they said they breed their females btwn 1250-1500grams, they said my girl would be fine. I guess ill rethink.

WeissChoice · #5 (**permalink**) 12-20-2005, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JennC

they said they breed their females btwn 1250-1500grams, they said my girl would be fine.

I used to start breeding my females @ 1300g and they had nice sized clutches and minimal slugs (which are usually caused by heating, not size).

All personal preference I guess. It's good to cool her anyways, just so she gets used to the process if you decide to breed her next year.

telefrag · #6 (**permalink**) 12-20-2005, 09:51 PM

All I did to breed mine was shutoff the heat at night in the fall.
and after a month ,month and a half, bring them back to 85 during the day and 78 at night.
with a basking spot of about 90

worked for me

JennC · #7 (**permalink**) 12-20-2005, 10:47 PM

Ypu im just waiting to see if our other ball is a male, if it isnt ill be useing my aunts male ball, and i just need to wait for christmas money to go get a higher wattage bulb to raise the temps.

JennC · #8 (**permalink**) 12-21-2005, 11:01 AM

Ive been planning on breedin them since i got into snakes, This female is the best snake i have and i want to have offspring from her. YES i kno its more than just stickin to snakes together, thats why im on forums such as this one.

JennC · #9 (**permalink**) 12-21-2005, 09:16 PM

The corns are being locally sold, my father is makeing me because HE doesn't like them. And im trying tog et further into the boa/python thing, i really enjoy the larger snakes and with so many morphs available its like WOW! So soon im only going to have the boa, the 2 balls and the burm. And hopefully with all the chrismtas/corn money i'll be able to get this hot salmon male boa that ive wanted for a while.

Yes, its my first time breeding, but i was going to breed my corns next year, if i dont sell them. I already have planned out FAR ahead, and have a pretty nice sized list of people who are dying for babies from Monty.

I appreciate your concern lethergic.

JuliusSqueezer · #10 (**permalink**) 12-21-2005, 10:07 PM

I don't understand the need for christmas money to get a higher wattage bulb. They are like a buck. Any household bulb will do. You don't need petstore specialty bulbs for mammal eating snakes. Do you have an incubator set up?

JennC · #11 (**permalink**) 12-21-2005, 10:31 PM

The one they have now is a 60watt heat bulb, wich is keepin the temps quite low considering the temps outside are in the negs. I need to get a 75, and around here, they are quite costly.

No incubator set up, again, christmas money, and shes not even preggo yet.

Leatherface · #12 (**permalink**) 12-21-2005, 11:21 PM

Jen,
May I make a couple of suggestion's?? And please view the following from a newbie that knows lots about guns, knives, and crafting leather and exotic hides, but not alot about breeding snakes..

1...Do as SatanicIntention suggested and wait until she is a bit heavier...A season isnt gonna make that much difference to her, but as a beginner ya need a little bit of a margin...

2...Go and get yourself a better bulb (they are not much)

3...Go to abreptiles.com and look at the listing about constructing an incubator

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