Another Ball Python question?

[Daspletosaurus]

The last time I was posting here I was asking about a sick snake. I wanted to say that it was a respiratory infection and it was caught very early and she is fine now. Now I have another question about the same female snake. I think that my two snakes were mating. I found them once on February 12 and another time on March 12. Here's two pictures I took on February 12.



(The pictures were taken on a cell phone which is why their bad quality)

Is this mating and if it is when would she lay eggs if she does have eggs? I have read a few books and websites about breeding but, I want to learn more from someone who can help go through and learn more about breeding them.

 

[janjgeckos]

Looks like an atempt at mating dont look like he under her tail enough but who know what happened before or after your pic they prob locked up

 

[Barbel]

Do the snakes always live together or did you put a male and a female together on purpose?

 

[Daspletosaurus]

They lived together for 2 years without doing anything like this. Then after I saw them like this I separated them a few weeks later after I saved up for more supply's and another 40 gallon tank.

 

[b25wolfpack]

I would make separate cages for them. Looks like the male is for sure trying to lock up.

 

[Daspletosaurus]

They have been separate for a month now. I think its safe to say that she doesn't have eggs. The Female is eating very good now. Everything is back to normal but the male won't eat still. Its been 3 months since he ate. I have tried Rats, Mice, and Gerbils. He wont eat them live, frozen, or thawed and frozen again. I know its not the way the tank is set up because they both have the same temperatures and hiding spots. Is there anything I can do to get him to eat other then force-feeding(I would only do this as a last resort and if he was losing weight but he is not losing any)?

 

[Barbel]

As long as he is not loosing a significant amount of weight, I wouldn't worry about him not eating. We had a male and a female each go ten months without eating a single meal. The female lost about 200 grams and the male lost about 350 grams. When he wants to eat he will eat. To make things a bit easier on you, you can only offer him food every two weeks instead of every week until he starts to eat again, then go back to once a week. I know it's bothersome, but this is typical ball python behavior!