Reptile & Amphibian Forums

anyone have tips on breeding monocled cobras,speckled rattlers,or copper's

I would strongly recommend against breeding monocled cobras...the market is already saturated and with the large amount of hatchlings being produces versus the number of truly competent owners, we have way too many out there. And, with continued legislation against the keeping of hots, exotics will probably be the first to be banned. Speckled rattlers and copperheads are a much better choice but again, just realize that there is not a huge market for venomous reptiles.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL

>>anyone have tips on breeding monocled cobras,speckled rattlers,or copper's
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Specks and copperheads are very easy to breed. For the most part, they require a winter cool down (mid to upper 50's is usually sufficient and I will still provide a very localized "basking" area that may reach the mid to upper 60's) for a period of around 3-4 months. During this time make sure that they have fresh water throughout the brumation. Warm them up gradually in the spring, get them feeding, after their first shed, introduce the males into the females cage (or, some folks just keep them communally and let mother nature do its thing). I will usually keep them together for a period of three days, separate for a week, and breed once more. Neonate copperheads can be a bit of a challenge to get feeding but not too bad. Speckleds usually take to f/t pinks rather easily.

>>I would strongly recommend against breeding monocled cobras...the market is already saturated and with the large amount of hatchlings being produces versus the number of truly competent owners, we have way too many out there. And, with continued legislation against the keeping of hots, exotics will probably be the first to be banned. Speckled rattlers and copperheads are a much better choice but again, just realize that there is not a huge market for venomous reptiles.
>>
>>Rob Carmichael, Curator
>>The Wildlife Discovery Center
>>Lake Forest, IL
>>
>>>>anyone have tips on breeding monocled cobras,speckled rattlers,or copper's
>>-----
>>Rob Carmichael, Curator
>>The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
>>Lake Forest, IL
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Neonate copperheads are the only baby hot I've ever worked with (albiet for a short time) and they were eating pinkies with no problem. I guess this wasn't the norm?

Ian