Decided to do Balls. Need Some Help

[bohannbj]

I'm calling in some support from the expert ball guys and gals. My wife and I have decided to add a couple of ball pythons to our collection, maybe a bumblebee and an albino. I need to know time for sexual maturity for both males and females. Average numbers in a clutch? Incubation temps? And anything else you think would help.

 

[Nigel4less]

I bred(Yes Bred I do very little Ball Pythons now), My males at around 18 months but some people have luck breeding males at a year. And Females are generally 26-36 months. Incubation temps are usually 88F for me

 

[T&KBrouse]

Age doesn't matter as much as size. Females you want to be atleast 1200 grams, males 500 grams. Put them together around October and keep them together until the male looses interest. Its 2 months in the momma and 2 months in the incubator. Nigels right about the temperature. That 88 degree area will give you a nice mix of males and females. 4-8 eggs is a normal clutch size.

 

[dprince]

That 88 degree area will give you a nice mix of males and females. 4-8 eggs is a normal clutch size.

Ball pythons aren't temperature sex determined like leopards, though. 88-90 are good temps for the eggs.

 

[bohannbj]

How many grams should they be, before I buy one. I was also wondering what you think would come from breeding a bumblebee to an albino and then the hets back to each other.

 

[Nigel4less]

Pastels,Spiders,Bees, Normals all het for Albino. Spider Combos are genetic powerhouse!

 

[T&KBrouse]

Ball pythons aren't temperature sex determined like leopards, though. 88-90 are good temps for the eggs.

Really? Wow... I've had a run of good luck then. (I ain't complaining. I'll take it!)
Thats what I get for learning from an "old school" breeder.

I've heard that a slight temperature drop at the last two weeks of incubation can cause some pretty unusual coloring and marking. Has anyone else tried this?

 

[Nigel4less]

Really? Wow... I've had a run of good luck then. (I ain't complaining. I'll take it!)
Thats what I get for learning from an "old school" breeder.

I've heard that a slight temperature drop at the last two weeks of incubation can cause some pretty unusual coloring and marking. Has anyone else tried this?

To me it sounds like a Load...

 

[colleen]

My boyfriend and I have both bred females as young as 2 yrs and 1150-1200 grams. The males have always been 1,000 grams or larger, (just because they were that size by time the females were up to size) but they can be as small as 400-500 grams. I have a 400 gram albino producing sperm plugs right now locking up with my 1600 gram female het albino.

Also, as far as incubation goes, we both have allowed our females to maternally incubate. I keep the tub temps between 87-89 degrees with 60-70% humidity. The female will thermoregulate between the warm and cool side of the tub and will tighten/loosen her coils as needed for the humidity. We have had a 100% hatch rate every clutch. The mom will do the work, as long as she is given the proper conditions. Hope this helps!