I have 2 eastern milks that I caught when they were both 10-12" and have raised to almost 3' over the last few years. I have always kept them in the same 10 gallon aquarium without incident except a couple times when feeding them (closely monitored and quickly separated). Anyway, I have never brumated them and don't even know if they are a mated pair, but last week I found what I guess was a single slug egg on the newspaper! I closely inspected both snakes thereafter and could identify no more "eggy" lumps in either of them. Can anyone fill me in on what this means? Are they necessarily a mated pair? Do eastern milks breed without hybernating them? Should I introduce a container with moist vegitative matter to induce egg laying? I was going to try to breed them next winter (my first attempt ever at snake breeding), but maybe the snakes are horny teenagers with ideas of their own! Any information from this knwledgeable lot would be much appreciated.
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Eastern Milksnake breeding question
Replies (2)
that would be an egg "folicle" that was not reabsorbed by the female(sometimes this happens), and on the other hand, there could have been some internal reason that made her "prematurely" expell one, with others still being in her waiting to be fertilized by the male this Spring, that's hard to say...Usually it's necessary to "brumate" these milks because of there colder range in the U.S, as opposed to a Scarlet King from South Florida. It is also better if they are kept separately when intending to breed, so they aren't so used to each others scent all the time, but absolutely doesn't mean they WON'T mate, as many will, it just betters your odds, also preventing possible cannibalism in the process. If you notice one swelling in the lower half, then I would prepare a "laybox" later on. But first gently glide your thumb down her belly with a slight pressure, and feel for the typical "bumps" in the next few weeks, and go from there.........best regards,..........................Doug
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Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!
n/m
