Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have read and replied/asked a this question in one of the below post but i think it got lost in with all the other comments."When not brumating,,when to put together
Breeding Kingsnake..help?" I still have a question that I am hoping could be clarified for me. In one of the other post someone recommended feeling for the "String of Pearls" and they would be ready to copulate.

Does this mean that once you feel the string of pearls put them together asap? Or how long do you/can you wait?

I ask this because one of my females I feel the string of pearls now. She has been brumating for just over two months now. (I know I have also read about whether to brumate or not to brumate which is one reason why I decided to pull them out only after two months). She started eatng on the third day of warming up a large mouse and ate two mice as of thusday.She did not eat the first day after warming up started. She is 5 years old and has been bred the past two years.

My other female I do not feel the string of pearls. So do I have to wait to feel them? Or is that just one of the signs to look for? She also has been out since tuesday 1-22 and has eaten 1 large mouse on wednesday and 1 large mouse on thursday. I plan on feeding them every other day until it is time to put them together.

I have had a few kingsnakes for about 8 years now, but just aquired these two females last october. I have not ever bred any of my snakes before so ANY help is VERY MUCH appreciated. Thanks in advance. Rich M.

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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae Adult(Banded, Coastal Phase)
1.0.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae baby(Banded, Desert Phase)
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae Striped San Diego Phase
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae Adult Aberrant High White
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae Baby Aberrant
1.0.0 Hydrodynastes Gigas False Water Cobra
0.0.2 Thamnophis sirtalis Canadian Common garter Snake
0.0.1 Tupinambis teguixin Columbain Tegu
0.0.1 Varanus exanthematicus Savannah Monitor
0.0.1 Eublepharis macularius Paster Leopard Gecko
1.1.0 Gopherus agassizii California Desert Tortoises
0.0.4 Sceloporus occidentalis Western Fence Lizards
0.0.1 Eumeces skiltonianus Western Skink
2.1.0 Trachemys scripta elegans Red Eared Sliders
1.1.0 Mustela putorius furo Ferrets
1.0.0 Nymphicus hollandicus White faced Cockatiel
0.1.0 Nymphicus hollandicus Albino Cockatiel
0.2.0 Mini Rex rabbits
0.1.0 American Bulldog

They will typically have a post-hibernation shed at around the time they ovulate. There is a "window of opportunity" when it comes to putting them togather. You can get alot of useful information on the Applegate Reptiles website. There you can read his book "The General Care and Maintenance of Milk Snakes" online. It has the information you're looking for.

Tim

Third Eye

Nice pic, Tim. in fact, I enjoy all of your pics, and not just 'cause we seem to share a love for many of the same snakes. I got to learn how to take photos one of these days so I can share as well.

Thanks Howie!

That's a wild Cal king from Santa Cruz,CA.

Tim

How small are those? They are either very small or very thin. Either way feed them more.

If you put them togther the male will be on top of the female if she is ovulating. He will make slight jerking motions and be crawling on her back.

IMO just feed them and leave them together and then you won't miss that window.
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ÌÏËÙÍ ËÁÂE!

Trees don't grow on money either.

Both pics are of the females. The aberrant femal is about 42 iches long, the striped is about 44 inches long. The striped female is actually pretty thick, probably one of the thickest I have seen at least. The aberrant is a little thinner but she is not really thin at all. It is probably my picture taking that is distorted. I decided to feed them everyday a large mouse if they will take it. So far each female has eaten three large mice over the past three days. So has the male. He is not pictured, he is about 48 inches long but not a thick as the striped female.The male before brumation was eating small adult rats so he is not too small I believe. Now I am feeding them large mice so they get small meals frequently.

To describe the striped female I can only say that I have only seen a adult chain king that was about the same thickness as her. I was very impressed when I first purchased her.

So trying to put them together is okay now, I have read about a post brumation shed is about the right time. Since the aberrant female I can feel the oocytes (string of pearls)it will not hurt to try and put them together correct? I will continue to feed them daily also before trying to put them together.
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae Adult(Banded, Coastal Phase)
1.0.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae baby(Banded, Desert Phase)
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae Striped San Diego Phase
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae Adult Aberrant High White
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae Baby Aberrant
1.0.0 Hydrodynastes Gigas False Water Cobra
0.0.2 Thamnophis sirtalis Canadian Common garter Snake
0.0.1 Tupinambis teguixin Columbain Tegu
0.0.1 Varanus exanthematicus Savannah Monitor
0.0.1 Eublepharis macularius Pastel Leopard Gecko
1.1.0 Gopherus agassizii California Desert Tortoises
0.0.4 Sceloporus occidentalis Western Fence Lizards
0.0.1 Eumeces skiltonianus Western Skink
2.1.0 Trachemys scripta elegans Red Eared Sliders
1.1.0 Mustela putorius furo Ferrets
1.0.0 Nymphicus hollandicus White faced Cockatiel
0.1.0 Nymphicus hollandicus Albino Cockatiel
0.2.0 Mini Rex rabbits
0.1.0 American Bulldog

I really doubt that female is ovulating now. but if she is you may be missing your window. Why didn't you put them together already and find out?

This being the time of year that it is, it's very unlikely that the female's ready. If it happens snap some pics and post them.
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ÌÏËÙÍ ËÁÂE!

Trees don't grow on money either.

I tried on friday for about a half hour before I had to go to work. I didn't feel comfortable leaving them together without monitoring them. the seemed fine together but no sparks. The female actually seemed interested and kept crawling all over the male. The male just kept cruising the cage though. I will try again today since I do not work tomorrow night. this way i can keep them in there for hours if needed. Thanks for your input. Like i said before this is my first attempt at breeing them so if you have any other pointers that would be great. Or if you have any articles/forums for me to check out. I have been reading anything I can get my hands on about it all for the past few months even before I decided to breed them. Again Thanks, Rich
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae Adult(Banded, Coastal Phase)
1.0.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae baby(Banded, Desert Phase)
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae Striped San Diego Phase
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae Adult Aberrant High White
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getulus californiae Baby Aberrant
1.0.0 Hydrodynastes Gigas False Water Cobra
0.0.2 Thamnophis sirtalis Canadian Common garter Snake
0.0.1 Tupinambis teguixin Columbain Tegu
0.0.1 Varanus exanthematicus Savannah Monitor
0.0.1 Eublepharis macularius Pastel Leopard Gecko
1.1.0 Gopherus agassizii California Desert Tortoises
0.0.4 Sceloporus occidentalis Western Fence Lizards
0.0.1 Eumeces skiltonianus Western Skink
2.1.0 Trachemys scripta elegans Red Eared Sliders
1.1.0 Mustela putorius furo Ferrets
1.0.0 Nymphicus hollandicus White faced Cockatiel
0.1.0 Nymphicus hollandicus Albino Cockatiel
0.2.0 Mini Rex rabbits
0.1.0 American Bulldog

Well I still think they should be breeding in April/may. January is very early and very unusual. You just have to time it right when both are ready. IMO you should cool them and put them down until late march.

Jelly male florida king soaking.

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ÌÏËÙÍ ËÁÂE!

Trees don't grow on money either.