Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So... my very first boa is about 4yrs now and I was hoping for her first litter of het anerys from my anery male. This morning while checking over my snakes before leaving for work, I encountered her giving birth... to a pile of slugs. I was crushed. It explains her not going into the HCCoil and always being on the cool side, but I am sure that despite MONTHS of breeding and what looked to be actual copulation, that no sperm made it to the goal... given that there were no premies or partially formed young with the slugs. My question: The anery male bred my older female 3 years ago... gave me a litter of premies, and again 1 year ago... gave me half slugs and half premies, and then now this event from a diff. female. I know the females are what guarantee a healthy litter (and good husbandry), but my Mom (who bred many other warm-blooded animals) thinks that my male has a low sperm count in addition to whatever other problems may have contributed to the bad litters. What do you guys think? Should I keep Reno, the anery, around for a few more breedings... or sell him? He is about 4, maybe almost 5, years old; not a immature male nor an old man yet.
My other female bred by a different male threw a good litter no premies, slugs or stills last year and I look to have a couple more litters coming this season... I do not believe it is my husbandry now, (although I did think I had a hand in when that first litter came in early 3 years ago).
Any thoughts? I am not really thinking that it has anything to do with my anery male having low sperm count, but the suggestion was made and so I came here to share my bad news and get any thoughts on the situation.
Thanks guys...
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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
0.1 DH Sunglow (Bonnie)
0.0.1 Hypo het anery
1.0.0 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.1 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal)
1.2 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Apricot)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
0.1 Emerald Tree boa (Jade)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.1 Carpet Pythons (Jackson & Charlotte)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)

Id keep him as a pet. invest in another breeder male. I knew someone that had the same issue with a pos super salmon male. bred 3 years in a row and threw all 6 different females a bunch of slugs.
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My Photobucket

He was my very first morph... so he kind of has a special place in my heart, but I am such a small time breeder that eventually space may be an issue should I purchase another male. I am thinking to try him one more time, maybe with another gal, and hope for the best. Otherwise, I think I will do as you suggest and try to keep him around as a pet... as long as I can do so and still care for my other active breeders to my satisfaction.
Thanks!
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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
0.1 DH Sunglow (Bonnie)
0.0.1 Hypo het anery
1.0.0 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.1 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal)
1.2 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Apricot)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
0.1 Emerald Tree boa (Jade)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.1 Carpet Pythons (Jackson & Charlotte)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)

Speaking of this-- we just got a pair of former breeders in- had a similar situation- the guy needed space for *new* stuff....

To me, its sad on both sides- you don't have any babies and have obviously had a hard year and lost some $, and the snake will feel it too. They were both aggressive b/c they'd not been handled so they were stuck here, in sortof a half-way house to be calmed down before they could be adopted...

anyway- we got both of them adopted out to great homes- where they're going to be spoiled rotten--
so if you do decide to get rid of him- I know you'll be able to find him a great home.

Beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

He's been loved... handled a lot and fed well since I've had him. I am one of those people that feel seller's remorse really bad too! I've sold babies that I haven't had a chance to become attached to... but never one of my adults. I am considering it, but just thinking about it makes me feel like I'm betraying him! LOL! I hope he can prove himself this next season, I'd rather keep him and have many good litters from him before retiring him to a peaceful life in my care until he passes away of old age. Otherwise, he deserves to go to a home as a non-breeder to be kept as a pet and loved on.
Pretty awesome you tamed that pair down and found them good homes... hard to do sometimes. I wish somedays when I see all the boas for adoption, that people could someday spay and neuter some of the common reptiles as they do mammals... but oh, the complications!
Thank for the reply!
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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
0.1 DH Sunglow (Bonnie)
0.0.1 Hypo het anery
1.0.0 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.1 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal)
1.2 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Apricot)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
0.1 Emerald Tree boa (Jade)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.1 Carpet Pythons (Jackson & Charlotte)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)