Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hopefully I'll reproduce these for the first time this year:

Third Eye

Cool Tim. Congrats. When did you bring them out of brumation? They seem to be breeding early in the year.
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Dave Niles

Ah, that's a beautiful sight! How old are they? Any locality info? Did you produce them, or another breeder? Is that a red and a peach? Can't wait for mine to be big enough to breed!
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Carl

The male was a rescue. The police department found him in the closet of a home where a drug bust took place. He was literally "skin and bones" and I did not know if he'd survive. When I picked him up, he dangled like a rope. He's recovered pretty well, although he cannot handle large food items. He has the look of a "classic" NJ pine and is the reason why I bought two females as hatchlings three years ago. I'm glad I did, Northerns are my favorite Pituophis.

I don't have locality information on any of my pines. One of my females has a lot of white (that's the one in the pic below as well as the pic in the original post) and the other is quite a bit darker.

I really should have titled the post "Northern Pines Courting Today," because I'm not sure actual mating took place (my bad). Neither snake had a post-brumation shed and my black pines haven't either...but the male sure looked like he was trying hard!

Tim

Third Eye

Tim,
for your information, my pines don't shed before they breed. In fact my Pines breed three to four weeks out of hibernation. My males are definetly pacing their cages ready to get at it! They let me know when it's time! Then I put the male in with the female for a day, then three days rest, and back again. The one male I usually never actually see him breed his female. He's a bit shy. It's the other male that tries to inhale his mate when he breeds! And it's always immediately when he's put in! So yeah, don't wait for that first shed. Mine don't shed till pre egg laying, then again sometime shortly after eggs are laid. Anyhow, best of luck to you with breeding! Pines are awesome!
Myself, I'm waiting for one female to drop her eggs anytime. The other, oddly enough, hasn't gone through her normal pre egg laying shed. Have NO idea what she's up to!
Russell

Northerns! Mine are just beginning the romance as well! There is no doubt that this is the season that makes a herp lover smile! Take care all!

Jeremy

SHADE TREE EXOTICS WEBSITE

Russell,

I've been admiring the northern pine pics you've been posting the last couple of years.

Thanks for the advice. I saw the male being overly active, so that's why I put him in with the female - I figured it couldn't hurt.

Thanks again for sharing the information about them not needing a post-brumation shed!

Tim

Thanks for the compliments on my stuff. I checked last night, and finally my BIG Girl is in her pre-lay shed. But yeah, My stuff never sheds in the spring till before laying eggs. But yes, from what I'm hearing, many other people's animals do shed out of hibernation to get things started. It seems my males will also not shed till breeding season is over. But my corns all stick to the usual pattern of shed shortly out of brumation, breed, go into shed again, and lay eggs. Take care. Here's hoping for lots of cool babies on both sides!
Russell

...great job rehabbing that male! The female's a beaut, too.

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Carl

I had a pair of jersey northerns that would not eat untill they bred. One to two weeks out of brumation, and fertility was very near 100%.