How old do ball pythons have to be before they can breed.
How many eggs do they lay?
How often can they lay eggs?
2006-09-06 18:29:46 · 4 answers · asked by sanftner2003 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
The age of the snake is not as important as the size of the snake. A ball python can be 4 years old, but if she doesn't have enough weight she will not be able to breed. A female ball should be around 3 1/2 and 4 feet long and weight not less than 1500 grams. (some ppl say smaller is ok, but that is like saying , a 14 year old girl can pregnant... that doesn't mean she should!)
There is a great Book Called "Ball python breeding" By Mark Seward that I suggest to help get you started. It explains the entire process from temperature requirements before introducing a male all the way through incubating the eggs. Also has weight charts and charts for temperature changes.
Do a search for it online.
Balls will only lay eggs once per year. And depending on if you get her back up to size after this years laying determines whether or not she will be able to breed again next year.
Also females have been known to retain sperm for months after the actual breeding, so you will need to know what to look for to determine a successful breeding.
Typically a female will only lay between 4 and 6 eggs per breeding but a few more or less is not out of the question.
Good Luck!
2006-09-06 23:59:12 · answer #1 · answered by Jen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most people who care about their snakes will wait until their third year and that the snakes have a good body weight. Breeding it stressful on the snakes body, especially the females when they lay eggs.
Eggs will vary between 4 to 7 eggs but larger clutches are not unheard of. They lay eggs once a year after a natural photo period, simulating the natural cooling period and warming period from Nov 1 to April when you introduce male and female. Some people will try to get their female to clutch twice in the same year but again, it's stressful on her and it can dramatically shorten her life as well as breeding at a small weight.
2006-09-08 18:05:24 · answer #2 · answered by Gray Wanderer 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Here is a good link with some info on breeding balls. I have only bred King Snakes myself, so here is a link fer ya. Have fun, they are wonderful snakes.
http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide/
2006-09-07 12:41:40 · answer #3 · answered by serpy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
refer http://www.snakes.com
2006-09-09 01:48:10 · answer #4 · answered by Mani K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋