Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My female that has been cooled since mid Nov. actually shed about 1 month ago without being warmed up or fed.Shes warm and eating now as is the male. Do I wait until her next shed to introduce? I imagine it'll be quick as she'll eat 2-3 mice every 5-6 days... Just have never seen a shed during brumation. Dave.

Mine sometimes shed during brumation.
Last year I tried copulation before first shed, and the females wouldn't have it (males sure wanted too though).

First shed, a hardy meal, and they were quite willing.

It doesn't hurt to try before first shed - but I suspect you'll have better lucker after she sheds.
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x.y L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
x.y L. getula nigrita (MBK)
x.y L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
x.y Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus (W Hognose)
x.y.z Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

Sheds only have a little bit to do with it. Just wait until the female cycles. Its very visable and easy to Feel(palpate). Then there is no question or guessing. Cheers

If you could explain how to do this/ feel this, I would appreciate it. Thanks

It may be easy for some to palpate it, but for whatever reason, I was unable to feel them until after copulation had already taken place and the eggs were developing.

Perhaps it is simply lack of experience, but some things are only easy if you know what to feel for.

That being said, it seems that ovulation and readiness to breed, at least with common kings, very often goes hand in hand with first post brumation shed. It may not always be the case, but it is fairly common.
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x.y L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
x.y L. getula nigrita (MBK)
x.y L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
x.y Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus (W Hognose)
x.y.z Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

"Perhaps it is simply lack of experience, but some things are only easy if you know what to feel for."

I'm willing to bet the females on the forum are rolling on the floor over that one!
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

Nah - it's easy to tell when a female humam is cycling ...
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x.y L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
x.y L. getula nigrita (MBK)
x.y L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
x.y Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus (W Hognose)
x.y.z Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

I have bred cal kings and a few others and they were always textbook matings (twitching female with tail up and visible mating) but a number of different species that I am breeding this year have not been as smooth. They came out of brumation, ate like pigs and shed after about 3-4 weeks. However when I put them together they have shown no interest in each other and so I am not sure if they are mating at night or what. I wish I could tell another way than just waiting to see if they swell up.

Many times I find that certain snakes wait until the SECOND shed to breed.

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Thanks. I guess I am a little impatient, but oh well. Have you noticed that there seem to be certain species that are more likely wait till the second shed or is it an individual snake thing? Do you know what FR was refering to when he mentioned "Sheds only have a little bit to do with it. Just wait until the female cycles. Its very visable and easy to Feel(palpate). Then there is no question or guessing"??

Well, I've found it to be somewhat more of an individual thing, as to the female sometimes waiting until the second shed, it's hard to give an absolute answer one way or another. But i.e., this is what FR was basically referring to. This second shed often coincides with the right time the females follicles tend to be ready to be fertilized.

I can also relate to exactly what he was talking about in regards to palpating the female, as I have done it many times before, but basically, I just keep introducing them to each other after the first post brumation shed, and continue doing so about every week or so until something happens. After all, if you introduce them fairly early, and continue doing this, something is bound to take place in the middle somewhere..LOL!

To palpate a female, I use some pressure starting about half way down her length with the tip of the thumb pressing in her ventral surface(belly). As you gently glide your thumb down her belly with a little pressure, you can feel your thumb going past some soft lumps, these are the unfertilized eggs referred to.

hope this helps, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

I'll have to try that method.
The method I tried - which worked after they were gravid - was to allow them to free crawl over my forefinger.
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x.y L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
x.y L. getula nigrita (MBK)
x.y L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
x.y Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus (W Hognose)
x.y.z Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)