Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone successfully bred westerns without brumating them. All of my snakes are in the same room (boas and western hogs) I took them all off of feed and lowered the light cycles and put the boas together and they started breeding. I also put my male western in with the female and both showed very strong breeding responses and were going at it non stop for about 3 weeks then the male seemed to lose interest in the female. I split them up this past weekend and fed them both.I'm planning on putting the male back in with her today. What is a good sign that the female is gravid ? Any thoughts or opinions are appreciated.
thanks mike

It has occurred where females can be gravid without a brumation period. The brumation period is used to get them ready and increase the fertility to achieve a greater likelihood that the mating will result in fertile eggs.

If you end up with fertile eggs, let us know.
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Robert Charvat
1.1 het albino Western Hognose

Robert what is a sure sign your female is gravid? I didnt know for sure last season if my female was gravid until she actually laid eggs.She never went off feed the entire time and the male never seemed to lose interest until she laid.

My females have laid 5 viable clutches without brumation. One even double clutched. So, no it is not necessary. I, however, live in an area (Florida)in which the temps do not really get low enough for true brumation.
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Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the grave" Author unknown

Jenea do you give them a resting period instead of a brumation period? Whats a good sign the females gravid?
thanks mike

My females are a little "messed up". They have their seasons reversed, as I have clutches hatching right now and next month. As far as a resting period, not really. Sometimes they go off feed for short periods of time, but I have not paid attentions to how that corralates with them breeding. I will have to go back and look at that.

When my females are gravid, they become bigger pigs than normal, with ravenous appetetites. Start keeping records of their weights, and you should notice a rapid weight gain in about a month. My females lay roughly 5 to 6 weeks after copulation. Watch for her to shed in a month. That would most likely be a prelay shed. I always suppliment my girls with calcium once they have copulated as well. Helps reduce the stress on their bodies from producing eggs.

Good luck
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Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the grave" Author unknown

Thanks for all the info jenea I'll be sure and check her weight and watch for that shed.
thanks mike

What about palpation? I know people do this with large boids, but would it work for the smaller colubrids like the hognose?

Jenea-- how do you supplement with calcium? Do you use a water additive or something you put on your feeders?
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Robert Charvat
1.1 het albino Western Hognose

I have tried the palpatation, and really only feel the eggs right before they lay.

I dust the mice with a vitamin and calcium suppliment. I use Reptivite and Rep-cal. They just happen to be what I have.
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Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the grave" Author unknown