In the last blog, I went over what it took for a Ball Python breeder to be successful. Well, it wasn't very long, now was it?
Shouldn't there be more to it than that?
Well, as I mentioned before, I can talk to you all day long about what you can expect, but there are plenty of things that can and will happen when you least expect it.
Death is a huge part of it, injury another, and of course, those animals who don't eat for a year or so...
But besides all the bad stuff, it seems too simple, doesn't it?
Year one:
Pick out your babies
Feed and water your babies
Clean up after your babies
Repeat over and over and over
Year two:
Feed and water your subadults
Clean up after your subadults
Repeat over and over and over
Year three:
Weigh your adults to see if they are ready for breeding
(1500 grams+ for females, 700 grams for males)
Feed and water your adults
Clean up after your adults
Repeat over and over and over
IF THEY ARE READY TO BREED:
Put male in with female when the season begins (October-June)
Repeat
Clean, Feed, Water as usual
Watch neurotically at the females for signs of being gravid. (If you have an ultrasound, I envy you!)
Make egg box
Plug in incubator
Wait
Wait some more
Oh, look, EGGS!
Place Eggs in egg box
Wait 2 months, while keeping an eye on humidity in the box
BABIES!!!
Return to Year One for Babies, Return to Year Three for Adults.
Begin all over again.
Now, you may be asking, REALLY??? That just seems too basic, too simple, too.. boring.
Well, as I keep saying over and over again, expect the unexpected cause it will happen!
Lots of issues can be occur during all that time outlined.
But yes, in the most basic of all outlines of how to work it, it is that simple.
Really.
Now I don't include the anxiety attacks, grey hairs, near heart attacks and other medical issues YOU will have during the season, but that's not what we are talking about. We are talking about the SNAKES. We'll talk about YOU later...
Remember this, it is an amazing experience, an amazing ride, and no matter how simple it seems to be, you will enjoy it if you have the love for the animals. Hatching out your own baby snakes is absolutely glorious. There is a reason I do it year after year. It's a miracle in its own right.
Have a great day, my friends.
4 comments:
Another great blog thank ya hun
TJ
Your last two blogs have been so amazing! Keep it up and coming!
How many snakes have died or been sick on you?
Mine are so young, I can't stand the idea of losing them.
Is that first beauty a Pastel? Fire?
Hee hee, I love your description of ball python care/breeding! It made me giggle.
"Watch neurotically at the females for signs of being gravid." <-- Yep, that's the stage I'm in right now.
"Are you ovulating yet?"
"No."
"Are you ovulating yet?"
"No."
"What about now?"
"Nope."
"How about now?"
"Nope."
"But it's been two days!!!"
So the hard part is mostly just the unexpected stuff.... I can deal with that. And by "deal with it," I mean, "I'm sure I'll panic and go crazy, but it's totally worth it."
It's already been worth it, and I haven't had eggs or hatchlings yet! I am continually blown away by each snake's idiosyncrasies, disposition, behaviors, mood swings, etc. Some snakes don't like being bothered, and some seem to love human attention. Some could care less about their surroundings as long as they're comfortable; some want to explore every inch of a new object or space. And despite the occasional anxiety attacks, they are wonderful stress-relievers and comforters.
Thank you so much for these posts! <3
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