Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do males do hemipenile sheds throughout the year or is it only tied to mating season? Just curious because I found one in the water dish today.

Sean
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1.1 BRB
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
0.1 Silver TPRS
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat

'tis the season. Sounds like you have a boy who's ready to go. In my experience, this is only associated with the reproductive cycle
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

That raises a second question then. I was not sure if my female was gravid or just put on alot of weight so she has not been cooled. I was planning on cooling her as soon as I was certain she was not gravid. Will they often produce without cooling? Does the male shedding have anything to do with female receptivity or just his biological clock?

Just trying to figure out whether to cool them or not. Abd if I do cool them should I wait until I'm positive she is not gravid with a late clutch or just cool now?

Any info and opinions would be great.

Sean.
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1.1 BRB
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
0.1 Silver TPRS
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat

Cooling your female while she's gravid could cause a bunch of problems. Usually, gravid females eek out warmer temps and remain there.

Yes, before you cool, you should be certain whether your female is gravid or not.

While I cool my animals and believe it is the most productive strategy, I have seen animals produce babies without being cooled.

It sounds like tor pair is a little out of sinc with each other. Did you introduce them already without cooling? Why do you suspect she's gravid? What signs/symptoms are you observing.

Of course, you can go back to Dave's "Breeding 101" for a refresher. i also had an article published recently in the 2009 issue of "Reptiles USA". in it, I walk through the breeding startegy I use step by step.
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com