During
the weeks prior to ovulation the hard masses that can
be felt in the belly of female ball pythons are termed
follicles. Follicles are not eggs. A follicle is an egg
cell surrounded by one or more layers of follicle cells.
This mass (the follicle) represents the genetic material
the female parent will contribute to the offspring. The
male’s sperm will pass his half of genetic material
to the offspring. Ball pythons really aren’t gravid,
or pregnant, prior to ovulation. Even though the follicles
may be large enough to palpate, they still have not been
fertilized by the sperm so they are not eggs at this point.
Follicles can be reabsorbed prior to ovulation, so just
because your female has follicles, does not mean she will
lay eggs.
When ovulation occurs the female will swell at about the
last third of her body. It seems to me that ovulation
lasts for about 12 hours (with peak swelling in the middle
of those twelve hours) but I have had females remain swollen
for 24 or more hours. The swelling is easily noticeable
– it looks like the female ate a huge meal. This
swelling is caused by the follicles being released and
the female’s efforts to make the follicles pass
into the oviducts. The follicles are fertilized in the
oviducts by sperm. The sperm has traveled to this position
in the female’s body in the weeks or days after
mating. While in the oviduct proteins and calcium are
laid down in order to generate the shell. At this point
the female is carrying eggs and is gravid. Eggs, whether
they are fertile or slugs, can not be reabsorbed.
During
the weeks prior to ovulation the hard masses that can
be felt in the belly of female ball pythons are termed
follicles. Follicles are not eggs. A follicle is an egg
cell surrounded by one or more layers of follicle cells.
This mass (the follicle) represents the genetic material
the female parent will contribute to the offspring. The
male’s sperm will pass his half of genetic material
to the offspring. Ball pythons really aren’t gravid,
or pregnant, prior to ovulation. Even though the follicles
may be large enough to palpate, they still have not been
fertilized by the sperm so they are not eggs at this point.
Follicles can be reabsorbed prior to ovulation, so just
because your female has follicles, does not mean she will
lay eggs.)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)