Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been an intern at a reptile zoo for the last three months and have been taking care of the non-venomous animals here. The exposure and experience with North American colubrids has been great. I have a couple questions regarding multiple (double and triple) clutches in snakes like Pueblan Milks, Black Rats, Texas Rats, Corn Snakes and Emory's.

Correct me if I'm wrong, I've gotten clutches from my corns, emory's, texas and black rats and put the females back in with the males for hopes of second clutches. As long as their weights hold up is it possible to go for a third clutch assuming they will have a second? As that's exactly what I'm doing, ASSUMING they will have a second clutch.

Thanks for answering my questions, this is my first foray into colubrid breeding.

Terry

I think the key is to feed them heavily after they lay. Maybe a day or two after. In nature this would tell their triggers that there is plenty of food available and so kicks them into another breeding cycle. Double clutches are very common with well fed females. Triple cluthes are less common but still not unheard of. If you have a female that is a finicky eater than she may not produce but one. Heavy feeding in between cluthes is the stimulus.
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