Ball Pythons are among the most sought-after snakes for reptile lovers of all levels.
A lot of keepers raise ball Pythons because they are looking to expand their collection or are looking for to pursue a hobby.
Ball pythons are able to breed in the wild. They have also allowed the hobbyist to develop a broad range of varieties. Morphs are created by breeding two Ball Pythons that have preferred characteristics (e.g. the color of or design).
Breeding ball Pythons requires knowledge regarding Python behaviors and genes. If mistakes in pairing occur, the morphs could be born with neurological disorders that can be passed down from generation to generation.
If you’re looking to breed your own morphs , read on to learn how to judge the pair, incubate, and hatch.
Timeline for Ball Python Breeding
Within Africa Ball Pythons reproduce towards the latter part of the wet season (i.e. the beginning of November). The females put their eggs in the womb in the middle of the dry season that follows.
Pet Ball Pythons clearly don’t experience a wet or dry period. But they do exhibit this behavior. Therefore, the breeding season for ball pythons runs from the beginning of November until mid March..
It is crucial to ensure that healthy adults are married.
The process of mating and the development of eggs requires lots of effort for both of the parent. Snakes that breed as juveniles or are overweight could be extremely harmful.
The result of every pairing is an effective lock. This is why snakes are able to mate several times during one season. If the lock succeeds, the females will then ovulate and begin to produce eggs. Within two to three weeks of ovulation, she will shed the skin. This is referred to as an early shed.
In the days prior to the time of laying, female pythons will make a move to a warmer place in her enclosure. The female will lie curled up with her tail tucked under her body. This is a normal behaviour that can be observed for up to 48 hours prior to the time that eggs begin to appear.
The behavior of the child will be erratic and unsettling, therefore it is recommended to keep her in a quiet place in this time.
Clutches consisting of six eggs are the most frequent. The clutch sizes of ball pythons range between one and twelve eggs. It may take two to three hours for all the eggs to lay.
After the eggs have laid, they are removed and placed inside an incubator. This allows breeders to examine the condition of every egg. After 52-60 days of incubation , eggs will begin hatching.
The hatchlings utilize a special egg tooth that pokes out (i.e. pip) from their egg. When one hatchling emerges, the others usually appear within a couple of hours.
Eggs that aren’t been pipped within 24 hours could require assistance or not be viable. Some breeders opt to cut open eggs that have not been pipped.
| Activity | Day # |
|---|---|
| Reduce Temperature of Tank | 0 |
| Introduce Male | 21 |
| Successful Lock | 22 |
| The Development of the behaviors | 100 |
| Ovulation | 120 |
| Pre Lay Shed | 134 |
| Clutch Laid | 164 |
| Incubation | 164 |
| The itch | 219 |
| Hatchlings’ First Shed | 226 |
How to Breed Ball Pythons
1. When is Ball Python ready to mate?
Females should be at least 1,500 grams before attempting to breed.
Females attain sexual maturity between 27-31 months. Males are more mature and mature between 16 and 18 months. When sexually mature, both genders are able to reproduce successfully for the duration all their life.
For breeding , you’ll want an equivocal female who is healthy and free of ongoing health issues and an adequate response to food.
The Ball Pythons that are larger generally produce more healthy eggs and are less likely to experience adverse health consequences from breeding. One good general rule of thumb is to wait until your female weighs at least 1,500 g before you attempt to reproduce her. The development of eggs in ball pythons is directly related to fat reserves. If you breed a tiny or overweight snake usually results in less eggs which can cause more egg casualties as well as damage to mother.
The selection of a male is simpler. He doesn’t have to weigh over 700 grams, and is likely to be less than a female.
If you’re breeding for one particular morph then you’ll need to select parents with powerful traits.
Breeding for morphs is a process that requires knowledge of the genetic dominance (e.g. recessive, dominant , or codominant). A few breeders mix their breeds to produce hatchlings that have the characteristics of a “grab bag” of traits.
2. How To Pair Balls Pythons
In order to begin the breeding process, it is necessary to duplicate the cycle of Pythons’ natural habitat.
The last week of October, reduce the temperature at night of their enclosures to around 70 degrees. The daytime temperature should stay stable in the high 80degF range.
Reduce the temperature in tiny increments over three weeks, to ease the strain for your snake.
Cooling female pythons’ enclosures prior to pairing can stimulate the development of the follicles. They are reproductive organs that create eggs after fertilization.
The size of the follicle is crucial to the success of reproduction. Females who are receptive will have at minimum one follicle with an dimension in the range of 10-millimeters.
The frequency of feeding and the size of food should be decreased gradually.
Females may lose up to 28 percent of their body mass during the gestation period and egg-laying. This is among the main reasons why to be in good shape prior to breeding.
3. Selecting A Male
The choice of a male to breed is typically easier than choosing an female.
Males must be healthy as well as sexually mature. He must have a minimum age of 18 years and should not have to weigh over 700 grams.
Before introducing both Ball Pythons need to adjust towards cooler temperature for up to three weeks. After four weeks, the male is able to be moved into her enclosure.
If females are ready to be a mate, she’ll allow him to come closer and kiss her with his spurs. This action stimulates the female to open to the actual process of mating.
Females who are not interested in males might require more time in cooler temperatures to allow for bigger follicles and follicles.
4. Locking Behavior
When they are receptive, females allow males to introduce any of the Hemipenes in her cloaca. this is referred to as locking.
When a lock is in place, the two Pythons tails are tightly wrapped and both will are very still.
To increase the odds of breeding success , it’s essential to observe you Pythons until you are able to confirm that they are locked. Do not presume that females are open to breeding.
Locks last between four and two days. When a lock has been confirmed then it is best to leave the couple in peace and be as quiet as you can. Locks are easily disturbed by sudden noises or motion.
After locking is completed, the snakes will break off. After that, take the male back into his enclosure. Males can be crossed with multiple females in one breeding season. Be sure to allow him to have three days or more of of rest between pairings.
If you don’t notice a lock, you can Leave the male alone with the female to wait for 2 days. This gives the pair plenty of time to bond.
Female ball pythons are able to hold male sperm for up to a month. After fertilization, female follicles will continue to increase in size and form eggs. This is the process known as Ovulation.
5. Learning Behavior
Following an ovulating success, Ball Pythons have clear indications they’re about to begin the process of ovulation.
Six weeks prior to the ovulating of females, they could undergo a change in color. It is evident when the contrast between light and dark spots significantly increases. This is often accompanied by an ovulatory shed.
As the female grows her follicles, she can get a lumpy or unbalanced appearance when curled up.
6. Ovulation
Ball Python ovulation lasts for up to six weeks. In this time, females get larger and more swollen particularly near the bottom of their tails. When the eggs get bigger, the tail’s thickness will increase and become more apparent.
Females during ovulation often search for the cooler slant within the enclosure.
When ovulation starts, your Python will begin to display three strange behaviours:
- The water bowl is ablaze with coiling
- Inverted Laying
- Food refusal
A Python wrapped around the bowl of water is a frequent indication of the ovulation stage. She’s trying to bring her ventral scales into touch with the surface of her bowl, in order to get her body to cool down.
Another common behavior is lying inverted. This is when a python is lying on the lower part of its body sitting belly-up.
As the time for ovulation approaches, women may start to resent food as well.
Food refusal is caused by an increase in energy consumption. Energy that is normally reserved to digest is now used for the development of embryos. Snakes that are large enough breed (i.e. more than 1500 grams) do not suffer by the fasting that occurs during the ovulation. They’ll regain appetite once they lay and have incubated eggs.
7. Pre-Lay Shed
Halfway through ovulation , Ball Pythons come with an ovulation shed that is pre-built.
This is an obvious sign that approximately 3-4 weeks are remaining before they can lay.
The next step is to buy or build an incubator. The incubator must run for a period of time before the introduction of eggs. It will guarantee that the humidity and temperature remain steady and within the ideal range.
As she gets closer to laying down, she’ll be agitated and will seek the perfect warm, humid place to lay down in.
8. Laying
One of the indicators that a female who is heavily gravid is the appearance of an angular spine or ridgeback (i.e. prominent spine) which becomes more prominent as you get closer to lying.
The process of laying a clutch can take many hours.
In the course of laying, females can be aggressive. It is advised to keep her in peace until she is finished.
The wild Ball Pythons stay on their eggs in order to incubate and ensure their protection until they develop. In captivity, the majority of breeders choose to transfer the eggs to an incubator that is separate from the eggs. This lets them closely examine the eggs.
9. Moving the Eggs
Mothers wrap themselves tightly around their clutches immediately after placing.
They could be aggressive when approached.
You’ll need to take her slowly but firmly. Grab her by the tail and head, then unwrap them from their eggs. Transfer her into a container that is temporary.
You can now begin moving the eggs.
Mark each egg lightly with an eraser to avoid confusion as to the side that”up. “up.” When moving the eggs , grab them without making them spin or turn.
Lay each egg one at a time on the substrate for incubation with the exact way in which they laid. You should leave one inch between every egg. Don’t attempt to separate eggs joined because this could result in the egg’s shell beginning to break.
10. Candling Eggs
The visible shriveling, discolored or small eggs might not have been fertilized.
Each egg that is moved should be evaluated the viability of each egg. A reliable method of determining fertility is through an process known as candling. In a dark space, hold a flashlight on the egg’s bottom. It should show an outline of the major embryonic structures. Fertile eggs are red or orange with obvious blood vessels.
Infertile eggs are also known as slugs. They have more transparent and have a greenish or yellowish color when lit.
If you’re sure that the egg is not a slug , remove your incubator ( unless it is attached to fertile eggs).
It is tempting to light candles on eggs frequently from the clutch. It is best not to do this because excessive handling could damage the embryo’s development.
Eggs Incubating Ball Python Eggs
The correct incubation process is crucial to creating healthy, healthy Ball Pythons.
Incubation is when the breeder assumes responsibility of the hatchlings. At this point, the majority of the work was performed by their mother.
There are various kinds of incubators. Some are purchased from a store, while others are built by the user themselves.
The 29″ x 16″ x 18″ container is ideal to make a DIY incubator. It provides enough room to hold three mid-sized clutches. There should be enough space for air to flow freely within the clutch. Air circulation is helpful in facilitating even heating.
If you’re buying an incubator, you should try to buy a larger one. This will allow you to stay clear of the fluctuation in humidity and temperature. A 24 18” x 18”x 16 incubator can allow you to house up to three clutches of eggs that are medium-sized.
Your incubator should be up and running for three weeks prior to the time you introduce eggs. This will make sure that temperature and humidity levels remain constant and within the optimal range.
The temperature in the incubator should stay between 85 and 85 degrees F. The heat should be evenly distributed , with some hot spots.
Eggs must be kept in smaller containers that have the help of a substrate that is able to hold moisture and is devoid of chemicals present in the incubator. Vermiculite, perlite, well-rinsed organic potting soil as well as Sphagnum moss are good substrates. If you’re using organic soil, then add fine gravel to ensure that the substrate is well-aerated.
The humidity of the incubator should be between 90 and 100 percent. This can be accomplished by misting the eggs’s substrate each day. Avoid getting any water directly onto the eggs, as this could result in mold.
Incubation
Eggs of Ball Pythons incubate for between 54 and 60 days.
The eggs can begin to dimple when the embryos absorb more yolks and begin to get close to hatching. The shells will also soften at the close of the incubation time.
Baby pythons have an egg tooth located on the tips of their snouts. They use it to break the eggshell.
Once they’ve pipped it can take as long as up to 24 hours for babies completely appear from their eggs. Don’t attempt to lift the infant out of the egg since it could remain connected to blood vessels within the yolk sac.
If your baby hasn’t pepped within a few days of other hatchlings, you may assist.
Make sure to cut the shell carefully with the aid of sterilized, sharp scissors. Take care when cutting the egg to ensure that you aren’t damaging you Ball Python.
When all babies have fully emerged, they are able to be transferred to separate containers.
In 10 days, or after the first shed, they are provided with food.
Summary
Breeding snakes is an enjoyable and interesting pastime.
Ball Pythons are great snakes to keepers for breeding. These tough snakes require just a little bit of encouragement.
With patience, time and a basic understanding of genetics, you can begin to hatch one of your personal Ball Python morphs. There are more than 50 diverse types of morphs you can use to successfully linked.
Python breeding should be centered around snakes. Be aware that you are accountable for the care and adoption of all hatchlings born.
Tell us in the comments section if you are planning to breed ball Pythons.
