Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK - my amel male and snow female came out of brumation well and have been eating. Thanks to you all who responded with advice to my initial post. The male shed about two weeks ago; the female shed today. Now what do I do? Tomorrow I plan on putting them together - how long do I keep them together after they hook up - hopefully they will! How many times do I keep putting them together?

Any advice is tremendously appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

You can do a three days "on" (together)/three days "off" (apart) rotation until it's obvious that the female is gravid. Three days is a random number. You want to have the snakes apart for enough time to get some food in them (although the male may not eat). It's pretty typical for breeders to allow their snakes to hook up several times (or as many times as the snakes want).

Tim

Thanks Tim - should I try to feed them before I put them together or should I wait 'til after I separate them.

Jim

>>Thanks Tim - should I try to feed them before I put them together or should I wait 'til after I separate them.
>>
>>Jim

I would put them together right now.
Wait to feed them after they've been together.
At least until after they've been together this first time.
I always place my breeders in a seperate container. This way even if I don't see them hook up I will usually be able to see signs of a hook up.
A little seamen or blood will usually be seen.
If I don't see any evidence of a hook up or the actual hook up I leave them for a day or two, seperate for three or four days and put them back together.
Although a lot of people will continue to put them togethr until the female shows signs of being gravid, once I've seen them hook up or have seen signs of a hook up I usually won't put them back together again.
It's just a matter of choice. So far, once has been enough. That is ONCE has been enough when I'm positive there actually has been a hook up. If I'm positive, they don't go back together, if I'm not positive I'll try until I am positive.
Seems to work.
We all have our own ways of doing things. What works for me may not work for others, what works for them may not be any more successful for me.
But, one thing I have noticed, the stress of breeding can cause them to deficate in the breeding box.
I like to time feedings either a week before pairings or right after.
just my ways of doing it.

-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

Thanks for the response Jimmy - I will be putting them together later today.

Jim

Update -
I put the two snakes together - been together for over an hour nothing significant is happening. Both are just lying there - no aggression - nobody trying to run away from the other, etc.; the male had some twitching going on.

Do I leave them together? or remove them - feed them and try another day?

Any help and advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

>>Update -
>>I put the two snakes together - been together for over an hour nothing significant is happening. Both are just lying there - no aggression - nobody trying to run away from the other, etc.; the male had some twitching going on.
>>
>>Do I leave them together? or remove them - feed them and try another day?
>>
>>Any help and advice would be appreciated.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Jim

Since there is no show of interest, personally, I would probably go ahead and separate them. If the male was pursuing but the female not receptive I might keep them together over night but if neither really show much interest just wait until another day.
Give them something to eat and try again in about four or five days (after they poop)
remember this is just what I would do.
Others may do it diferently.
My way works for me, their way works for them...can't say either is wrong, you just need to do what works for you and your snakes.

-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

Thanks for the reply Jimmy. I was planning to separate them and try another day - since this is my first try at this I was hoping someone would suggest that approach.

We'll try again another day, hopefully with better results - I'll continue to post as we proceed.

Jim

Question did you mist the enclosure after you paired the snakes to try to raise the humidity at all?
Tom

Tom - thanks for the response. No - I didn't mist but I will try it when I put them back together.

Jim