Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone here ever had success breeding pine snake specifically black pines, with out a brumation period? I recently purchased a pair that hadnt been cooled, and are well into breeding age. I would imagine its a little late to cool them now. Or would it just be a better bet to keep feeding them this season and wait till next year? Thanks
Max

They certainly look breeder size. You can have success breeding without brumation with a lot of the more southern species. Observe them and they will tell you if they are wanting to breed. Feed them regularly if the female sheds, if the male goes off feed and gets roamy he may be smelling her and be ready to breed. Put them together and see what happens. I would give it a shot. They look like nice blacks.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
0.3 P. c. sayi red bulls
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 D. corais Yellowtail Cribos
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

I had them in a dark room but the temps were not very low. in the mid 60s. But when Id go in to check their water theyd be active and moving around. So I went ahead and purchased a wine cooler and have gradually cooled them down to 55 degrees. So now my question is, considering the time of year should I start warming them up considering they may breed with out a 3 month brumation? Or just keep them down for the time frame I set. I do not know weather or not pines have a breeding window in captivity with a controlled enviroment. Thanks for the help
Max

It's not a hard and fast rule to go a full 3 months. I would give them 6 weeks since you have them cooled now. The breeding window is what it is whether in a controlled environment or in nature. Once up from cooling they should be ready to go.

When you bring them up:

I would get the female up to warmer temps and pump the food to her. If she's anything like my Pits she can eat her fill every 4-5 days. She's going to need as much nutrition as she can get before she starts developing eggs. After breeding most likely she will go off feed until after laying. Once she lays pour on the food until you're ready for fall brumation.

The male I would keep a little cooler. There is some speculation that warming the male too much too early it may affect his sperm viability/production. Feed him smaller meals during this time with a daytime hot spot circa 80 and cooler nights. Once he smells her readiness he will probably go off food anyway. Once breeding is over crank his temps up and pour on the food.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
0.3 P. c. sayi red bulls
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 D. corais Yellowtail Cribos
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

Thanks man!

I would just cool them now. If they were not cooled, they can't tell the difference. They will think it is winter and should still breed in the spring.
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Nick Puder
www.rnpreptiles.com

Thanks Nick. Yea I have them cooling as I type. I gradually brought the temps down and theyve been sitting in temps from 53-55 for about a week now.
Max