Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all,
My first attempt at breeding. Male and female are of appropriate size and age. Warm side 86, cool side 76.

I put the male in about 2 1/2 weeks ago, and he took immediate interest. Climbed on top of her, and there he perched. No spurring, or other heavy courting, just very possessive (he bit me when I reached in to touch her...first bite!). Nothing more since then.

After reading a lot of posts on here, I put a shed from another mature male that was smearing sperm everywhere. It seems to have turned him off. He now is just sitting next to her, and is pretty inactive.

My question is, is he still courting? I know snuggling can be courting, but should I see progression? Should I cool the cage, or are the temps OK? Should I take him out for a while, or just let them be? Should I take the shed out?

Any help or stories of experiences are greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Sometimes the shed works, sometimes it doesn't.. I rarely adjust my temps for breeding.. If I absolutely need to, I will pull the male out and leave him in a cage with no hot spot and around an 80 degree ambient.. I never adjust a females heat.. After a male has spent the night in a cooler cage, sometimes he will get his groove on upon reintroduction, sometimes not.. Either one of your boas could be initiating a shed cycle which in most cases will cease breeding. What is the ambient in your cage with that large of a temp gradient? I wouldn't let the ambient to dip into the low 80s/high 70s for too long, it could possibly bring on a respiratory infection depending on the snake. In the end, its up to the snakes.

Thanks for your response. Both have recently shed, I don't think that's the problem. I guess more of my question is should they be progressing to more than cuddling after being together for a month?