Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am currently housing a pair of tiger ratsnakes together and the male frequently tries to hump the female, causing the female to be chased. The male is also regularly resting or sleeping on top of the female.

Does anyone else house their ratsnakes, particular tiger rats together 24/7 like me? Is that ok or will it stress the female in the long run? They have been together for at least 6 months now. Both are eating fine. Thanks.

I keep my pair of Mexican bairdi together year round, but they have three hides, he sometimes sleeps on top of her but if she wants to get away, she can, she goes into a smaller hide and he doesn't fit. I never miss a breeding opportunity with these two.
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Todd Hughes

I do not personally house snakes together in pairs or breeding groups. There are numerous reasons for not doing this on previous posts throughout the forums that I agree with. I would advise caution with your pair based on the breeding attempts you stated are occurring. If the female is too young and not quite there with size and weight, she could become eggbound or experience other complications due to these breeding attempts. Plus as you mentioned, there is the stress issue. She may go off feed, or not feed as well as she should due to the stress and constant harassment of being chased around by your amorous male.

>>I am currently housing a pair of tiger ratsnakes together and the male frequently tries to hump the female, causing the female to be chased. The male is also regularly resting or sleeping on top of the female.
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>>Does anyone else house their ratsnakes, particular tiger rats together 24/7 like me? Is that ok or will it stress the female in the long run? They have been together for at least 6 months now. Both are eating fine. Thanks.

I usually don't keep two snakes together. I do have exceptions, however. Sometimes I keep babies together, sometimes adults in winter depending on the species, sometimes when I don't have enough space, usually two males or two females. Keeping them together sometimes causes stress, depending on species and individuals, etc.. The two that you have I don't think I'd keep together unless you were trying to breed them, and then only for short periods. Good luck.

TC

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From everything I've heard from other Spilotes breeders, tiger rats are the exception to the rule-they breed much better if kept together year around. They are quite a high-strung snake, and seem to need the prolonged time together to form sufficient "rapport" to mate.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." - Robert A. Heinlein

Brad, your response is a perfect example of how this forum should work with the sharing of info. I learned something new about a species even if I dont keep it!!

Keep them together! Maybe pull the male at feeding time to make sure the female gets her share! They do need to stay together for successful breedings. I've kept Spilotes off and on for 14 years and breeding is always when they're ready, not when the keeper thinks they should be! LOL. All the usual cycling, misting, etc, tricks have been employed over the years but I've never been able to point to a specific set of "inducements" foisted on them by me as the trigger for eggs.

They know, so having them together year-round is a must. Having an actively courting male is a good step in the right direction. Also, keep a close eye on the corners of the cages..even w/egg boxes mine always chose a remote corner to lay their eggs.

Bill