Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with their pits double clutching. I was cleaning cages last night and noticed that my female vertebralis was in the process of laying her second clutch of the season. I had noticed that she was refusing to eat lately, but I never noticed that she was gravid again. Although I welcome the second clutch of het albinos, I wish she hadn't doubled because she had yet to put significant weight back on after her first clutch and now she is not looking so hot. I guess I will have to see if she will take some small mice and try to get some weight on her.

Ian

I have heard from my friends that breed pits that double clutching is not good for pits. The eggs are so stinking huge, that it really takes a lot out of them. There may be exceptions to the case, but according to my knowledge, it may be pushing it.

I hope your cape does well!
Billy
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Genesis 1:1

The female that laid the Sonorans that Tom Stevens has picture above has double clutched both last year and this year. Of course one of the things that Tom believes strongly in is feeding the heck out of his snakes so they come out of it in pretty good shape.

Pat

And I agree!! That is very smart for Tom to do that! Thumbs up!

Billy
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Genesis 1:1

doable with all Pits. The San Diegos looked exhausted after laying.but then again they were so much smaller in general. My Pine produces in late summer, eggs hatch in fall so no double from her...but I have heard of Bulls laying two clutches. The Sonoran I have is a champ, eats me out of house and home but I wouldn't change a thing. Tom Stevens
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TomsSnakes.com

Ian, may I suggest feeding her hopper mice.....very very small adults at first. I would offer 2 the first day she will eat and then 1 every other day or so til she appears about what her average weight would be. I too would be concerned. However I also wonder if a skinny snake holds more in the way of fat reserves than we could know for winter? What I am getting at is who knows how often snakes in the wild gets to be signifigantly healthy as far their weight after laying a clutch, especially a second clutch before they slow down for winter. I double clutch most of my snakes with no ill effects, but only my Sonorans in the way of Pits. Tom Stevens
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TomsSnakes.com

It was nice to get the second clutch, but if I had had the choice, I definitely would have chosen her health over the eggs. I gave her a couple small adults and she seemed to have a good appetite. She has always had a good appetite, so it was surprising when she only ate a couple times after laying. Thanks for the advice, I will give her a day or two and give her another mouse.

Ian

Several years ago I brought all my pits up a month early.....actually Arizona's unusually warm spring brought them up, almost every species/spp./locality doubled that year. It was not intentional and I had not introduced males a second time so I ended up with spotty fertility. Although I keep my snakes at what would be considered a good weight it really hammered most of them. Low market prices of pits and a love of my collection motivate me to avoid repeating that year's events.

It was cool to see the endocrine sysytems of these snakes queing on the photo period and abundant resources to take advantage of a "long summer" opportunity.

Viva la Pituophis!

Cheer, Ginter