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Breeding Females Consecutively (Fertile clutch vs Slugs)

Double B Reptiles

Double B Reptiles

Double B Reptiles
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So, since it was rattling around in my mind this morning, I just wanted to get an idea as to how many people around here breed their female ball pythons year after year without a break, or 2 on-one off style rotation, or one on one off, or one on multiple off. Along with that info, if you don't mind sharing, I would also like some insight as to who has noticed a higher fertility rate in females that are given a year + off, as opposed to those that are bred year after year, back to back. I know that all females are different, and nature is still random, however, that doesn't mean that there won't be clear, general statistical numbers. :) Any info helps! Thanks in advance.
 
Fertility and slugs aren't the same issue so it's really not a fair comparison.
We have females that have dropped 4 years in a row, some 3 in a row, a few that went then didn't then did, and one that didn't go, did go and then didn't again.
Most slugs imo are caused by lack of food before breeding season resulting in not enough calcium to produce eggs properly.
We've thrown 6 slugs in 5 years from over 200 eggs, and those came from 3 different females that didn't eat well before breeding.
We've only had 2 infertile eggs in that time, both from females that dropped 8 and 9 egg clutches.
 
snakesRkewl said:
Most slugs imo are caused by lack of food before breeding season resulting in not enough calcium to produce eggs properly.
We've thrown 6 slugs in 5 years from over 200 eggs, and those came from 3 different females that didn't eat well before breeding.
We've only had 2 infertile eggs in that time, both from females that dropped 8 and 9 egg clutches.
Click to expand...

Way cool that you noticed the feeding thing as well. I have noticed that my females that really like to eat before breeding season, and those that continue eating throughout the season all throw some nice, perfect, white eggs, whereas those who don't eat so well and/or fast througout the season throw eggs that will be more dimpled/discolored.

Thanks for the reply Jerry!

As far as fertility goes, how can you truly say that slugs/fertility are unrelated issues? If slugs are, in a sense, infertile eggs, wouldn't an infertile egg that appeared normal, candled without veins, then rotted away be in the same category as a slug? I know infertile eggs are calcified, and slugs aren't, but an infertile egg, is what it is, if you catch my drift. Not trying to be argumentative, just trying to get some other people's insight. :) Thanks again Jerry! Great response.
 
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