Breeding ringed pythons and white-lipped pythons

Submitted by dave and tracy on Thu, 2006-10-19 19:00

 

Dear VPI,

I have a question. I have 2 male and 4 female ringed pythons (Bothrochilus boa) and wonder if the best way to breed them is to have all in one group or just in pairs? I have had them separated and now it's breeding time here in Europe. So my question is now when I have them on cooler temperatures what should I do? Should I keep my animals in one big group or in pairs?

I have the same question about white-lipped pythons, Leiopython albertisii.

I have tried to breed these to species for a couple of years now, but without any good results. I have bred  lots of other pythons the past 10-years and it's have never been a problem before , When I have put other  pythons together they always start copulate direct after introducing to each other.....

Please if I you have any idea let me know!

Best regards and thanks,  JG

Dear JG

There are three important considerations for these two species. One is that wild-caught females (meaning White-lipped pythonWhite-lipped pythonfemales that were adults when they were caught) are nearly impossible to breed. This is generally true for all pythons, but especially these snakes. It can be done but it's very hard to do; it takes many years to acclimate them sufficiently to breed.

The second point is the compatibility of the pairs. More so than in other species of pythons, the pair of snakes has to be compatible. That is a pretty subjective thing to judge, but usually if the pair is compatible then they are always in close contact, they sit together, they lay intertwined when resting. When they are not compatible they sit on different sides of the cage and seem to try to avoid contacting each other.

The third is that closely-related animals are often difficult or impossible to get to breed. That's not true for all pythons, but it seems to play a part with these species.

As long as these things are taken into account, we have found that the species breed readily and easily using the same techniques that seem to work for other species of pythons.

Good luck,  Dave