Ball Python Breeding '04:  This season I have paired up my albino male with an unrelated het-albino female purchased from VPI in 1999.  They were originally paired together in Sept. '03 and bred numerous times all winter. She isn't a huge female but is the right age and is in good shape for the season.  She began showing all the signs of being gravid in early February and the male was removed for use with other females.  The het-albino female ovulated 2-24-04 and she had her pre-lay shed 3-20-04.  I expect her to lay eggs at the end of April.  

I have also held on to the VPI pastel that produced the outstanding babies from last year for another round of breeding this year. Big thanks to VPI for the loan of their breeder male. He was paired up with the big female Nessa again since their offspring last year were so brightly colored.  This would be her third year in a row of laying eggs.  Normally I like to give my snakes a year off in between, but this girl is such a chow-hound that her body weight was back up in time for breeding season.  The pastel didn't show any interest in the three different girls I had him in with.  However, early this March, he has begun to breed the big female Nessa.  I am going to keep a close eye on her progress and keep my hopes high.

My albino male was also cycled through another big normal female Nakita, and his 2 year old daughter Ramona.  He has been most active with Nakita and spends days at a time locked up with her.  She is getting quite plump and hopefully is going to ovulate soon, possibly next month. 

UPDATE: The het-albino female was laying on eggs this morning (4/15/04) and there are 7 perfect fertile eggs due to hatch early June '04!

UPDATE 6/2/04: The het-albino x albino eggs are due to hatch next week (6/8/04) and I am very excited to see what hatches out of the seven eggs that are cooking.  I also have two eggs from a normal female that was sent to me in March that were laid 4/16/04 and should hatch approximately the same time as the other eggs.  I am also expecting eggs from my 12 year old female Nakita bred to the albino male.  She ovulated on 5/22/04.  She should shed mid June and lay eggs in mid July.  Those eggs should hatch in mid September '04.  Still no sign of gravid behavior from Nessa (bred to the VPI pastel) so I am not expecting any pastels this year.  However, her sons from last year are very big and will hopefully be ready to breed next season.  

UPDATE 6/16/04: Well they took their sweet time, but they are finally here!  There are four albinos and three hets hatching from the seven eggs laid 4/15/04.  The first albino head can be seen above.  Expect lots more photos as they all emerge.  The final tally: 1.3 albinos and 2.1 hets!  I must have mistaken Nakita's follicle swell with an ovulation because she did not end up laying any eggs from the albino male.