Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im kinda new to snakes but i also no the basics about kingsnakes now. Im thinking about breeding my Ruthveni Kingsnake. Here are my questions

1: Is breeding kingsnakes hard?
2: How old does the snake need to be?
3: Whats is required?
4: Do i have to breed of the same type of snake (EX: Ruthveni and Ruthveni) Could i do (Ruthveni and Cali 50/50) ?

Thanks and sorry for all the questions

Johnny

>>1: Is breeding kingsnakes hard?

Can only speak from my own experience. I bred cal kings and goini (blotched kings) this year, my first year ever, had 8 of 8 hatch in both clutches, and lost one in each clutch due to various causes. Seemed easy (easy to say now that all the waiting till ready to breed, breeding, waiting till ready to lay, waiting till the eggs hatch, waiting till the babies shed, waiting till they eat...)

>>2: How old does the snake need to be? At LEAST two years, but breeding is a factor of size and not age... so two years minimum, preferred older, also depends on the species. I have a female pyro (arizona mountain king) who is 2 years old. Next year I will try to breed her the first time.

>>3: Whats is required?

Two snakes of opposite genders. Patience. Luck.

>>4: Do i have to breed of the same type of snake (EX: Ruthveni and Ruthveni) Could i do (Ruthveni and Cali 50/50) ?

If you mix subspecies of kingsnakes you will be hybridizing them, which is difficult if not impossible for most newbies. I would suggest get a few years of just regular breeding under your belt, then read all the arguments on the hybrid forum, think about it another year, then decide if you really want to hybridize. It's much easier to sell "pure" hatchlings than hybrids, I would imagine.

I would go the FAQ link at the top of Kingsnake, click on "breeding colubrid snakes" which can be found on the FAQ page. It's a great article and tells you a lot of what you need to know.
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~Sasheena

Waiting IS the hardest part!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But after all the impatient waiting you are rewarded handsomely with beautiful animals that you helped come to life.

These are some of my rewards this year---------

John Lassiter