Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have this male BCC who started acting quirky a couple of weeks ago, I have had him in with a female and he courted for a week or so and then went into a shed. After he shed it seems like he has not stopped pacing the cage, I removed him and gave him a small meal and reintroduced him after about four days.

On the 6th day after feeding he started pacing again, I thought maybe I had a female giving off pheromones but none of the other (proven) males are courting at this time so I think that theory is out.

It seems that he just wants out, does anyone have any thoughts or experience with this?

Thanks for your time.
Joel

Well, the only two reasons i can think about are:

1) another female is giving off pheramones...which you have ruled out due to the other males. I think you are right on that.
2) she has already ovulated and he wants nothign to do with her anymore. But i'm sure you would have noticed that.

When you say you put himi back after 4 days afte feeding, did he court her for a couplde days again, and then give up again?

I'm wondering also if maybe she's no long in a cycle. I had a male court a female while her follicles were growing. He stopped after a while. she hadn't even ovulated yet. Well through ultrasounding her, i noticed that her follicles were actually lessening in #, and getting smaller until they just disappeared. That might expalin it.

He did court for about three hours after I returned him after feeding, since then when the thermostat kicks the day time lighting on he pretty much just paces the enclosure.

I have not noticed an ovulation on that female but I have missed ovulations on the BCC in the past as I don't think they last as long or are as noticable as they are on BCI.

All the males I have in with other femalaes are proven breeders and there is no courting going on, I am starting to think maybe There is a female giving off pheromones because that would explain his behavior.

To your point on the follicles that may also explain. I wouldn't think that would make him pace, I would think that he would just loose interest wouldn't you?

Thanks for your opinions, I appreciate your time and thoughts.
Joel

I think there could be another receptive female. I have noticed that individual choice plays a fairly significant role in breeding boas. Last year I had a couple of pretty thick females I just knew were developing follicles, but the males I had in with them weren't the least bit interested. After a few weeks, I switched males and breeding commenced almost immediately for both pairs, lasting for weeks. It was litterally like a light switch was turned on for both males. Both females ovulated in about a month (within a week of each other) and successfully produced litters via the substituted males. It is not the only time I have changed a male and had male #2 start breeding behavior almost immediately, but it was the most obvious as both were very aggressive breeders immediately after the switch.

I assume both females were in about the same place, follicle develoment-wise, as evidenced by the ovulations within a week of one another. All I could think was maybe individual selection was in play?

Any other ideas?

Mark
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uncommonboa.com

the other idea I had was maybe the residual scent of each male was present in the cages and on the females after they were removed. Maybe that could have stimulated "competetive" breeding behavior or at least contributed to it...

Mark
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uncommonboa.com

You are correct Mark, I too beleive they can be choosy however I am trying to selectively breed and this year I wont be switching males. His behavior certainly is suggesting that there is another female in "heat".

Thanks for your time and thoughts.
Joel

Joel
Not sure whats goin on but in my experience BCC ovulate just as big. Ive seen a few in my time.

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Richard Ceniceros
Tap or take a nap

I am basing my experiance with BCC to the few litters I produced some six years ago, I was always able to tell when my BCI were ovulating, but I missed every ovulation with my BCC...Just walked in the snake room and there were babies.

I knew they were gravid but because I missed the ovulation I had no time frame to work with, do you think that the BCC ovulation lasts as long as they do in BCI?

Thanks Richard and good luck with your pairings.
Joel