Breeding Outline

So, my friend Randi has been patiently waiting for me to outline my breeding schedule thru out the year, and I have to say, I had been forgetting, getting distracted, and all out just overlooking doing it.

A few weeks, a few months, and I actually finally did get around to it. Here we are!!

So lets begin with prepping.

I begin to prep the animals for breeding in August- September by feeding them alot.



September thru October 29th, I watch them for signs of being ready or not, and put stickers on the snakes that should go but are not ready.

October 29th, my birthday, I start pairing (usually... this year I let that date slip).



Pairing that I do is 3-4 days on (depending on the animal and if I see any locks) and 2-3 days off for the males.

I tend to pair when the rains come, as the barometric pressure changes tend to get the males randy.

Females stay in their tubs, and get offered food every week, but I do tend to buy half of what I normally would because some females tend to stop feeding.

After I see signs of ovulations or gravid behavior, I continue to breed until I see the actual Ovualation. This is tricky, because catching Ovulation is luck of the draw in some cases... So sometimes I just guess..

After Ovulation (or guess), the males get more time off, and I wait for eggs.



30-60 days, and BOOM!



Incubator goes on around the time that I see lumps within a female, or when I can palpate big eggs. Incubator tends to run a week or more before the female lays. In my paranoia, I tend to run it way early, in this case, it was a month before the eggs were laid.

Oh well. At least I was prepared!

Overall, there is a timeline you can watch, but I don't have it down pat. Here is the link I tend to look at, as well as something that is much more visual for you use in terms of comparison.

This is a good one for photos and actual dates.

Incubation time, and 55-60 days later, babies!!

And then we begin again!

So there we go.

I hope that helps, Randi. I hope that helps everyone else as well.

Ball Pythons, but what else?

So I am Heather's Herps, not Heathers Ball Pythons.

Why is that?

Well, I love other reptiles as well, so I didn't want my business name to keep me in one position only.

So, one of these days, I may branch out into other reptiles, but right now, I'm good.

But yes, I do have other things. I've highlighted them before in previous blogs, but I've decided to talk about a few of what we have and had, as well as throw in some photos we took at the show as well of animals I've considered owning but do not have.



I love tortoises. They look like grumpy old men all the time, and they are just great personalities. They help you eat healthier, cause you need fresh vegetables as well as fruit to provide for them in your house. Kinda a diet watching animal. How cool is that???



Chameleons are also fun. They need bugs, however, but watching them eat is just too cool! They require some specific husbandry needs, which is why I've never owned one, but I have taken care of a few in my day, and if they have a good setup, they just need the bugs and water flow. They are very pretty as well. Can't be upset at a color changing lizard, right?



Before I got into Ball Pythons, I had Beardies. I had a few Beardies, to the point where my room was full of tanks of Beardies. They are a GREAT lizard to own, as they dance, wave, change colors (a little) and are just a friendly fun lizard to have. They eat vegetables and bugs, and even pellets if you can convince them. They come in a variety of colors, and they are a decent size. They need heat, but they are a great beginner lizard. I loved my babies, but I really couldn't get over feeding them bugs and veggies every day when I had more than a few of them. So.. I moved them on, but I wouldn't mind having one again one of these days.

Maybe...



And of course, Cresteds. We actually have a few of them now, and I really like them! Geckos are usually kind of specific in terms of husbandry, but Cresteds are easy. They eat baby food! You don't need bugs, you don't need veggies, you don't need special lights. They are so simple! They come in great colors as well, and they jump around and are just a joy to watch. These guys are ones that I am considering breeding, since we have a few in the harem, but I'm taking my time.

The Ball Pythons do take up a lot of my time, as well as the Fuzz.. (And Black Jack)





So we shall see.

But as it stands, I am only doing Ball Pythons. But one of these days, I may branch out. Why not, right? A new adventure of sorts..

Should be fun :)

Vegas, Babaaayy!

Here is Black Jack, on a great hand of Black Jack. Isn't he handsome?

Oh Jackie, I took this photo before, but thought to wait until we came back from Vegas. Appropriate, right?

Anyway, we went to Vegas for the Vegas Reptile Show. It was fun to be out there, but the show was a tad bit small.

We showed up at around Noon to this.



A sprinkle of people there, a group of people here...



It was very easy to navigate thru the area, and to see who was there.



VPI was there, TSK was there, and a few others were there in terms of Ball Pythons.



After running around, Joel and I went to meet some friends. This is my friend Nile Monitor. The photo quality does suck a bit, but it gives you an idea of his size, and how much I had a blast holding him!



And a random Beardie that was hanging out on a table.



A Beautful Cherry Bomb Albino Blood Python on VPI's table.. (I wanted it)



Tom Baker was there with his Crystals. This is the Epic Pastel Crystal that he hatched out this year.



And because we were in another state, I got to see my favorite Exotic mammals again!
I got to play with Hedgehogs!! I miss Spike and Miss Piggy, and Kikosauce... Was kind of bittersweet, but they were fun! Shame they are illegal in California.



And I also got to play with FERRETS!! I would love to have one, they are so much fun! Such great cute faces and personalities and fuzzy trouble makers.. Too bad they are illegal in California too..



And there was a Kinkajou there at the show as well. Totally cute, but man oh man, what a ball of energy! These are also illegal in California, (of course) so I have actually only seen a few in person. This one being one of them. How cute is it???
I loved seeing it!



So after a bunch of talking and hanging with friends and playing with animals, we went to hang out with some local friends. We had a great time, and enjoyed every minute of it. We also did some family stuff with Joels family, and it was a great weekend.

So now, we are back in California, and it is RAINING! The boys are actually on break, so I will be pairing today again. Can't wait to see some boys being kicked into gear!

Have a fantastic day, my friends.

They are called WHAT?

I had a flash of brilliance yesterday, my friends..

I have to say, I'm a little proud of myself.

I took pictures with the items that I had in terms of the Morphs that they are called.

BRILLIANT!!!

I have to say, I don't have any Spiders to use... Didn't have much in terms of some morphs that don't really translate into real items (I tried to think about it, but to no avail)

And now? Here are the photos I thought that worked out the best...


And we begin with "They are called WHAT?"


A Fire with a Fire :)



A Cinnamon with Cinnamon



A Lemon Pastel with Lemons (this was somewhat a stretch)



A Pied with Pie (Yeah, this one was more of a stretch than the Lemon)



And last but not least, the Pewter with a Pewter piece.



DO YOU LOVE IT?????

Now, Jackie, I will highlight Jack... With a Black Jack... in honor of Vegas when we get back.

On Monday.

So I am off to prepare for Vegas. I need to recharge my batteries for the photos I need to take this weekend. And clean... And etc.

Have a fantastic weekend, my friends.



Blah blah blah Lewie :)

Spicy!!

Well, I am down to the wire when it comes to things up for sale, which tends to happen as the season turns to breeding again. These two girls have been around for a few months, and to be honest, if it comes down to it, I'll just keep them.

I really enjoy the Cinnies and Black Pastels. I think they are great, and what other morph makes a solid Black or Grey snake??

Its one of those things where many people are done purchasing for the season, and what I have left are sometimes things I can justify keeping on for a while.

Plus, I love Cinnamon. I love the smell, love the taste... Reminds me of the Holidays!

Ooohhh... PHOTO IDEAS!!!

Tomorrow should be fun. I am going to do some cool photos now. BE EXCITED FOR TOMORROW!



We need a snake called the Jalapeno or something...

Joel would be thrilled.


Anyway, back to serious business.

I put the males in, and so far we have:

Pastel het Pieds in the making, as well as Killer Blasts and Pastel Orange Ghosts. Albinos het Axanthic are on the way as well, somewhat.









The other males just don't like their girlfriends.

Oh well.

Have a Fantastic Day, my friends.

Tomorrow we are departing for Vegas for the Reptile Show. I will have a detailed report on Monday.

Its getting colder

The sky is clouding up, and I can't be more excited!!!

The males will be re-paired with their females today, since the sky is so overcast.

I have to say, being a snake breeder, I am very much more pleased with rain and clouds than I would have been before I started. Rain and clouds means much more attractive and randy snakes, which means more locks!!!

So after the blog, I'm going to go and get to pairing, and hopefully will have some photos to show for it later. Lets cross all crossables.

Anyway, I really really wanted to showcase this dude. He is one of my favorites this year, and I can't stop staring at him.

This is my Firefly.. Pastel Fire. I am shocked how bright he is!



When I saw him online, I knew I had to have him. I absolutely love how awesome he looks! So of course, I had to take pictures of him next to a Pastel to compare the difference. WOW is the difference..



This guy is one that I can just stare at and enjoy, while possibly burning my retinas out in the process. I can't wait to make a SUPER fly... WHEW!



Anyway, I am off to do things, make things happen, enjoy the clouds...

Have a fantastic day, my friends!

What I have been doing... and how I do it.

So I'm a little late on the blog this morning, but I stayed up late last night to get some reorganization done.

So what was I doing???

Well, I removed all the males.

How do I know where my males are in the sea of estrogen that is my snake room?
I basically have tags. Green tags this year, the colors change every year.



Green tags where the males are on the females tubs, and when they are not in a females tub, they have their tags on the outside of their own tubs so that I don't get confused.

And since they are all in the male tubs, the tags are all on the male tubs. Get it?

It works, most of the time.

How can I tell which males are where though?

The females tubs have stickers as well as to which male should be paired with them. So I can read that sticker, see the green tag, and know which male is in there.

Voila!!

And since I am moving animals all around and I had to redo all of the tags with years and junk... Did it for a long time, and got tired. This is about 45 mins of tag making. Then I stopped. I have to finish today...



And this is the newest addition to the pack. This Pied hatched out last week here, the only Pied in a clutch. She's awesome!!!

And of course, two days after she hatched out, new eggs came, with only one viable egg. Incubator doesn't get to go off yet...



Anyway, here is the newest Pied female. I am stoked to have her here, I may just name her something special... Not sure yet, but I'll get back to you.



I'm off to finish making tags, my friends. And cleaning, and watering, and possibly feeding... It never ends.

YAY!