I just ordered my first ultrasound and I'm hopeful I can figure out the "how" to measure follicles but I'm very curious what everyone does with this information and how they use it in their breeding season.

e.g.

Do you rotate males even tho the females have very small follicles? If so how often?

At what follicle size do you know you "need" to introduce a male?

For how many breedings or until what follicle size do you keep breeding the female?

At what follicle size is the female "done" and doesn't need a male (she's either going to lay or going to reabsorb?

Any info would be helpful. :)

Thanks in advance!!!

the first thing you need to learn about a ultrasound is how to work the 8000 buttons on it!

i have had mine for (2) yrs and still have not figured out what 7995 of the buttons do!

i have the on/off down and a few others but it is rough.....

some days the picture is pretty good but others i cant see anything so i start turning knobs and pushing buttons

it sounds bad but it is very true!

all i can say.... use it to confirm what you already know!

10 mm is good to put in males.

USUALLY around 20-24 mm females stop eating, and are CLOSE to being locked in for ovulation.

Past 30 mm you're getting eggs.

also, if the follicals are small, I put in a male to jump start massive feeding response and folli growth.

I consider 12-15mm prime time for successful cops. Under 8mm and you are not likely to see any action.

Over 20mm without pairing up and you are likely to see no success and follicles shrinking back to <4mm.

If you see good cops and folicles grow to 20mm+, you should be in very good shape. 30mm+ is home stretch, you don't typically see shrinkage and failure once they get past 25mm.

And this is just for Balls. Other species have other size points. I have seen Boelen's follicles up to 38mm+ and STILL not seen any eggs or slugs produced...

Thanks guys. That's very helpful! I'll see how much it helps but being a techie nerdy guy anyway I'm hoping its both fun and helpful.

Thanks!

What I found is when there is something, it is very easy to see. When there is nothing, it is very confusing, you always think you see something, but actually nothing.

I first got mine in July. The I check my females, nothing. I was so upset, because when there is nothing it is very confusing, I thight there are follicles just I don't know how to see them. Then I took the machine to a friend's house. He has many snakes. Then I saw the real thing. It is easy to see them.

One thing is, for those of you do ultrasounds. Have you guys ever seen some HOLLOW follciles? I mean the outside is dark like the other snakes, but the inside is light color, looks like hollow inside. It happens to 2 of my snakes. I thought they are reabsorbing, but then it have been 2 month , still there, still that size, still hollow. I didn't put any male in, becuase at first I thought they are absorbing.

ANy ideas?

Thanks

When they are going back down hte circles (follciles) are more "fuzzy" with rough edges.

Yes I think so. The edges still dark, but the inside is gray, looks like something inside the follcile or hollow.. Any idea?

Thanks