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I put Walt with her first so maybe he was shooting blanks? She laid 6 slugs early this morning and was in shed... second snake to lay while shedding? Still have good old Wilma to go, hope Walt sent the good stuff down the tube, lol!
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Todd Hughes

Todd, that stinks. Happened to me last season when my female threw 9 slugs. Don't dispair though, this year the same pairing yielded 13 good eggs. Better luck with Mildred next season.
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God Bless Evolution.

That's too bad Todd....Maybe Wilma will lay some viable eggs for you.

You know 'others' on the Kingsnake main forum swear kingsnakes do not require a brumation period....I don't agree with that 100%. I know Common Kings do not, but I think our Mexicana need something to trigger the oncoming breeding season. They are montane species.... Whether it be a light cycle or a cooling period or a combination of both or something else....I am not for sure
I tried feeding mine through a winter cool down once....I made sure there was a hot spot in each enclosure for digestive reasons....I saw them on the hot side all the time....This is back when I had 3 pairs of breeders (six cages). I got the ambient temperature down around 60 degrees.
Only one female laid viable eggs...Now it could have been the male's 'problem' but after that I started cooling them down without a hot spot I started having better success....

I am tempted this winter coming to pair them up during brumation as not to miss the 'proverbial window of opportunity'.....And I will surely keep them around 55 degrees from November to February with a natural light cycle (skylight)...

Does everyone brumate Mexicana? If so, How?
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

I did a "south Texas" brumation, lol, I had the window unit cranked, the room has an east and south window for exposure, I may not have left Walt in long enough, I put him in the mouse room, also cooled on the floor, he had an URI right after last summer and I worried over him till we pulled out of it, he seemed good to go, maybe his system was weakened. He is slammin' mice now, and I did see hookups on both females. Next year, I am going to try and feed even more coming out of "brumation", and also keep him in with her during winter, I will use the backup male with Mildred, but I also have two new girls coming up, Pebbles and Betty. I need a good looking, high yellow or high white stud this year!
Walt is still my go to guy, but I have Zeus up and coming for '11.
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Todd Hughes

>>Next year, I am going to try and feed even more coming out of "brumation", and also keep him in with her during winter...
>>I need a good looking, high yellow or high white stud this year!

A Female's high Caloric intake (lots of food) certainly produces more egg follicles, but a viable male must make all that work....

IMHO I think heat affects sperm viability as well as sperm count.

I think we often miss opportunistic windows thus the reason for brumating together, feeding separately then re introducing after each meal digests a day.

I may be able to help you out with the yellow or white stud, but not THIS year....Next Spring (2010) for sure...

Good luck Todd....
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

Todd I have 50+ eggs!!! I'll hook ya up! I got more than I know what to do with!!! And No I'm not trying to be cocky! I really have WAY more eggs than expected.
Later
www.midwesternmonsters.com

haha, thanks Chris, not too disappointed, you live, you learn. Thanks for all the responses guys, Wilma ate three small hoppers today, but she's a pig! She should go in shed soon, she is bigger than last year, so we shall see, it is hard to feel eggs in her, she is plump though! John, looking forward to seeing what you have down the line for sure and Chris, all I can say is there is probably at least one in those batches with ny name on it, lol!

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Todd Hughes

Todd, ill send ya pics asap... I'll hook ya up real good bud.. I wanna get my lines out there especialy to good folk like yourself!!

Bummer... well, there is always next year!
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Aubrey Ross

©
www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

yep, got a few new girls coming up for next year!

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Todd Hughes