#ball python breeding

[i-m-snek]

No pips yet, but we're getting close! 💓

[reptiphoric]

Been a minute, cool stuff going on <3

Theta and Gemini - Coral Glow Pin x Super Enchi

[applepythons]

The babies are out!

0.0.2 lavender albino 100% het pied

0.0.1 low white piebald 100% het lavender

0.0.1 glorious low white dreamsicle

[hearts-of-fire]

SO CLOSE

I’ve had a few breeders encourage me to pair them just under 1500g (which is where they’re at now) because they’ll gain the rest by the time follicles develop. What are your thoughts on that?

[friendly-familiars]

"But if we stop breeding spider BPs, we'll lose all these pretty morphs!!"

[omg-snakes]

I’ve been doing a lot of research about ball pythons but have yet to delve into the realm of breeding and the like, I want to get one or two and am entertaining the idea of possibly breeding them. I’d keep as many of the hatchlings as I could reasonably care for but do you have any tips on confirming homes before one gets overwhelmed with little wiggly babies?

Hi there!

I think it’s great that you’re doing a lot of research before you get into reptile keeping!I don’t want to dissuade you from getting into breeding, but…Actually, that’s not true. 

I do want to dissuade you. 

It’s not something to undertake lightly and ball pythons currently flood the market. There are 7723 ball pythons right now for sale on Morph Market alone. That’s seven thousand seven hundred snakes without forever homes this very instant, on only one of many website marketplaces, and the majority of these snakes are fancy morphs.There are literally not enough homes for the snakes that exist currently and anything less than a fancy morph is almost unsellable. Large breeders may even cull clutches of perfectly healthy wild type babies or sell them in bulk to keepers of ophiophagus species like king cobras and indigo snakes.Ball pythons do not need to breed to live a good or healthy life. Breeding takes a toll on their body and their lifespan and they will in no way feel sad or unfulfilled if they never breed. Breeding them, should you pursue this route, will be only to serve your personal desires.

You mention wanting to keep as many babies as you can, but keep in mind that every snake needs their own enclosure with hides, substrate, and decor ($100-300+), their own heater with high-quality thermostat and additional thermometer to spot-check temperatures ($100-300), regular food, and a minimum average of 10 minutes per day of your time for daily spot checks, cleaning, water bowl refills, etc.Ball pythons average a clutch of 6 eggs per season. If you keep just ONE hatchling, you are committing to $200-$600 for that ONE animal. If you keep two hatchlings, you’re going to spend $400-1200 to ensure that they are cared for to the current appropriate standards of reptile husbandry. Do you have trouble finding homes for all six and have to keep them all? I hope you have a really good job because that’s going to run about $1200, MINIMUM, for basic standards of appropriate husbandry, not including things like veterinary costs, food, electricity costs, the additional concerns of your own housing space, etc. Plus factor in an hour every single day for wellness checks, spot cleaning, and water bowl refills. Additionally, consider the emotional investment necessary. What if a baby is born with a defect that detracts from their quality of life? What if your female snake dies as a result of breeding?

If you’re still really serious, I recommend that you invest in breeder-quality animals from the starting gate. Make sure that you’ve provided them with the best enclosures you can manage and that they have the best quality of life you can provide. No bare racks, no tiny tubs, no shortcuts, no excuses.Then before you even consider breeding them have a wait-list of interested and ready-to-commit buyers that exceeds the average clutch size.Accept that you will never make back even a fraction of the money you will invest in these animals. Breed them for the love of the species and be ready to cover any cost that gives these animals that you love the best quality of life possible for the entire duration of their 25+ year lives, including and not limited to regular veterinary visits and senior care.

If this tirade was not sufficient to convince anyone that breeding is a major hassle and likely not worth the “zomg tiny beebee snek!!” squishy feels, I’d invite you to read a very honest and comprehensive reason to not get into breeding reptiles here: Sunfish Exotics’ Reasons Not to Breed Your Pet Reptile

I’m sorry if this comes across as mean or exclusionary, but as keepers it is our responsibility to make sure that our fellow keepers know fully and are ready to shoulder the responsibilities that come with ethical reptile keeping and breeding. These are things I myself consider every time I pair up my snakes and I’m sure every other responsible breeder in the hobby has their own internal checklist of “what the hell am I doing” when they contemplate bringing more common reptile pets into this busy world.

[katesgotsnakes]

OMG

Im so excited!!! My job gave me their old broken coke cola mini fridge!!!

I CAN MAKE A INCUBATOR IM SO EXCITED

[solid-snakes]

3 out of 5 eggs in my last clutch went bad during incubation, but the two that went the distance sure are pretty! I've no idea why they went bad--temps and humidity were spot on and the other two clutches in the 'bator hatched out fine. I guess it just happens sometimes.