Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all, I posted a question some days ago, but felt it easier to simplify my question. My question is this. After 3 weeks together, my boas are still just "cuddling". He's very possessive, but not anxious to put her in the mood. I feel that the snakes and conditions are all good for breeding.
SO...
Should I be seeing more progression? Should I try to do anything to get them going? Or, is this normal?

Well, I'm not the most experienced person... but I do have a bit.
I do know that some animals don't breed as well or often as others, and that sometimes even in the 'right' conditions one or the other won't be in the 'mood.' For example, my successful litter of hets this last season was from my male albino Loki; to start of this season I put him on a hypo/salmon which he's been breeding like a maniac on and off for months now... didn't happen right away though. But, I put him back on the mother of the hets (who is back up to weight) and no interest at all in her after 2 weeks together. In that case, is is probably the female that isn't ready. Most people will shift the male in and out over a period of weeks to see if there's interest, and sometimes the male will court, but nothing will come of it. There are a lot of factors.
Hopefully a bigger, more experienced breeder will chime in and give you some secrets. There are many methods that different breeders use. As for me and my boas, I assume they will know when they are ready and try to provide them with what they need to get there ( i.e. temps, humidty, etc.)
I'd write more, but back to work I go...
Steph S.

I'm not the most experienced breeder either (no young produced successfully yet), however I've read a lot of tips...

It does all depend on the female being receptive. You can't really FORCE them. All you can do is make conditions ideal.

One thing - you might never see copulation occur. Is the male "riding" the female and trying to squeeze her sides? That's a good sign. If he's just laying near her, she might not be ready.

You can try separating for a few days, "absence makes the heart grow fonder" so to speak. Or, try to get the shed skin of another male and put it in with the male & female you're trying to breed. The male, smelling the skin of a rival male, might get more boisterous.

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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com | CageMakers
1.0 BP, 1.0 Hog Is., 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC

Hey guys,
Thanks for the responses. He is riding her...where she goes, he goes with her. He's squeezing her if that means he's always on her and his tail is wrapped over her. It's just never vent to vent. She's just smeared white urate over the cage for a second time. Maybe they'll get going soon???

All signs look good then! You may NEVER see them "do the deed", some breeders never do - as long as he keeps riding her around, that's great! Just watch her for swelling. Him squeezing her should induce her to ovulate... don't take him out if she does. Leave him in until it seems like he doesn't want to have anything to do with her and stays across the cage...

Great to hear!
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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com | CageMakers
1.1 Ball Python, 1.0 Hog Island Boa, 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 1.1 Saharan Sand Boa