Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I'm from Argentina and I have a pair of L. alterna. They have been in hibernation for 8 weeks and now I want to know the next step for breeding. 3 days have past since they are in their normal temperature, do I have to put them together now? Do I leave them together for several days or if I see no copulation I separate them and try another day? Is there any problem whith cannibalism? Thanks a lot.
Augusto

Cannabalism is rare but I have had one female who was a particularly aggressive feeder attempt to eat her mate. I fed her a few more mice over a few days time and put them together again and it was fine.
Normally I feed them a few times during the first week out of hibernation and then put them together a couple times a week until they breed. If the female keeps throwing the male off I separate them and try again in a few days. Normally she begins accepting him about 7-14 days after her first shed but sometimes it is not until after her second shed.

You are probably 6 to 8 months away from seeing baby snakes, begin your breeding attempt by feeding them as normal, keep them apart in seperate cages. when the complete their first shed, the female more specifically, try putting them together. the female should be ready following the shed anywhere from the next day to two weeks later. Don't be discouraged if the female is not receptive at first, she will either come around in the next week or two or she may just not be ready this year

I would also recommend you make sure the female is older than 3, preferably 4 or 5 before you try to breed them, and try to use a male that is close in size to the female. and watch their behavior when they are together to avoid and accidents. It seems common that females try to "run" sometimes and can look scared, if that is the case don't stress her out and seperate the snakes after 4 or 5 minutes. I put them togeher in a small, 12" by 14" sweater shoe box to breed, not the one either snake lives in. since they are captive it is the keepers responsibility to help her escape if anything is wrong.

after you breed them together a few times, continue feeding as normal. after a month or two the female will shed again, Add a 9" by 9" rubbermaid container, with a 1.5" hole cut in the top with slightly damp pearlite and sphagnum moss . once she sheds, 7 to 12 days later she will lay eggs, at least that is the plan. Try not to handle her much at all during the breeding season also. then incubate the eggs at 80 to 85 degrees, with rather constant moisture and temp. and good luck!