Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How many times do you physically witness a hook up between a male, and female, and consider it a done deal. I've always gone on two, but do you think that's enough, or do you just let them go at it until they're not interested anymore? Thanks for your replies.
Ken

>>How many times do you physically witness a hook up between a male, and female, and consider it a done deal. I've always gone on two, but do you think that's enough, or do you just let them go at it until they're not interested anymore? Thanks for your replies.
>> Ken

Ken,
Out of ALL my snakes (see the list a few threads below) I only witness one or two actual hook-ups a year (not each pair - total). I don't worry about it, if they're healthy and old enough, they will breed. Heck, I had two Nelson's breed last year that weren't cooled or old enough (boys and girls will be ... well, boys and girls). I keep them together a week or two and then move the male to another female. Unless I happen to be keeping a couple yearlings together because of space and the dang things breed.

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Rick
Never Enough
Reptiles

look an awful lot like these two. And I agree boys will be boys and girls will be girls. But if I'm observing I like them to hook up 3 or 4 times.

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Vichris
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"- Marcus Aurelius

Vichris Variables

Chris, sorry I can't see the pic here at work.

With the Thayeri, the male is usually on the female within the first minute or two of introduction. I don't normaly watch because I don't want to interupt. The milks are far more secretive and I don't see alot of courtin' action with them (or the rosy boas). With the milks or boas it is usually just by chance that I look in on them while in the heat of passion. So, I guess some Thayeri could be shy as well - mine just are not. Kind of like Cal Kings and Gopher snakes that will breed right in the yard (someday I'll have a camerea handy).
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Rick
Never Enough
Reptiles

Thanks guys. I have some that are hooking up like crazy, and some that still aren't interested. Michelle, and I have talked about this, but what do you guys think about putting a male in with two females. Do you think it might get him more interested?
Ken

In my experience trying this, the male is usually more interested in just one of the females and ignores the other. Now it could just be that the other was not receptive but may have been with more time. A couple people I know that do big boas have had similar experience, one female is ignored.

I've only heard of one other male thayeri with a low libido that my buddy had. He would put a second male in (while watching) and let the males do their little tussle for a couple minutes then pull the second male back out. Snake psychology was that the males both think they won and are now ready to breed.

It would have to be an irreplaceable male for me to waist much time with a male that was not ready willing and able to get the job done without begging. That's just me though. Having much experience with highly in-bred show budgies (English Parakeets). Low fertility/libido is often overlooked and quickly becomes pervasive without diligence. I doubt the gene pool we are working with is very deep so my advice is to choose carefully.
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Rick
Never Enough
Reptiles

I agree with Rick here...........to a point. Two females rarely make any difference.

I've had very good sucess though using two males and one female. Like Rick said they usually get each other worked up and then when you remove the one that you really don't want do the business the other usually moves on to the female.

I've seldom had a female that was really ovulating not get a mature males full attention.
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Vichris
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"- Marcus Aurelius

Vichris Variables