I’ve read tons of guides online but I’d like to hear from you!
I’ve been putting my male with my proven female for almost three months now with several confirmed locks.
I was following approximately 3 days on, 4 days off during that time.
I’ve seen some people say they only pair once a month, some only get two or three locks and their female becomes gravid.
Am I over thinking things?
They’ve had tons of confirmed locks but I’m not great at palpating so can’t confirm anything. She was bowl-wrapping for a while but wasn’t lately and I guess I’m worried she might have missed. Or that if she hasn’t, that she won’t if I don’t keep pairing until ovulation.
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The general rule is to pair once a month. Keep pairing until you see an ovulation.
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Yep, however I paired mine only once and got ovulation 14 days later… lucky me I guess lol.
The rule of thumb is pair once a month or after every shed until you see ovulation, it helps to pair them during stormy weather too. Ovulation only lasts 24 hours though so you might have missed it, monitor her closely and see if she starts heat seeking. Has she began refusing meals?
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Thank you, and no she’s still happily packing away food and locking with my boy.
I just had a female I bought from someone lay a surprise clutch before she could be shipped out, the breeder not realizing she was gravid since she only locked once and never stopped eating- so I’m not sure how much stock to put into that as an indicator despite it being mentioned in so many guides D:
It’s only been about three months since I started pairing but the two immediately locked within a day or so of their first introduction. She’s had about two years off since her previous clutch with her past owner.
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Some Ball Pythons do stray from the norm lol. Just keep an eye on her and see if her normal behavior changes. Heat seeking is a big indication of being gravid, if she’s still eating and you suspect she may be gravid I’d offer slightly smaller meals so it doesn’t put more strain on her body than what is necessary especially when she starts getting really full with eggs, unless she goes off of food naturally.
The day before my girl’s ovulation she refused to eat and has refused meals since then. It has been 3 weeks of meal refusals and she is staying at the warm end of her enclosure constantly. Its not a necessary thing to do but I put a camera in her enclosure to ensure I can monitor her at all times.
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If they have been locking and then won’t that’s another sign the female may be gravid. Especially if you missed ovulation.
The only time I have paired my male more than once a month was when he was breeding 2 of my gals. But I would do Fri-Sun every 2 weeks. So each gal once a month
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Thank you guys, I’ll keep a close eye on her and see where this goes 
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