Although I have kept some together before, I don't personally keep pairs together year around now. I don't think it would be much of an issue if set up right (larger cages and multiple hides)and watched or seperated during feeding times. I don't know it for a fact but fear some species might be stressed by it though and I just choose not too.

I start pairing up various species including most ratsnake species as soon as they have their first meal or two after coming out of brumation. I used to wait until the females had a few meals or after their first post brumation shed but found that many species will become gravid right out of brumation. Once I start pairing them up, I keep pairs together, only seperating for feeding, until I'm confident I feel gravid eggs and not just unfertilized eggs. By starting to pair them up earlier in the season it has definatly increased having consistant fertile clutches year after year with different species.

I personally like knowing when to expect eggs.

As a general rule I don't try to double clutch my snakes but species such as trinkets, coxi and others will weather you want them to or not. I find that sometimes I miss those "off season" eggs until it's too late.



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Randy Whittington

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