Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 2 year old bulls mated this year, causing the female to produce 9 eggs June 2. They appear to be fertile. I have separated the pair as this was an unexpected mating (Really pulled a Homer; didn't think two year old bulls would breed! D'oh!)

She is quickly regaining her pre-breeding weight and is looking good. My question is, what are the chances she will lay another clutch this year even though the pair are now separated? I don't want her to have any more eggs this year, and will prevent her breeding next year as well, so as to fully recover from the cost of this unplanned pregnancy.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Have never had any Pituophis double clutch, although have never tried. I think they probably aren't prone to because they use up so many resources for the size eggs they produce and it would be very hard on them if they did. If you separated them, I think you will be fine.
PS Pituophis

Thanks for the informed reply!
I have housed them separately for the foreseeable future. This could have turned out very badly for my female even though she is a big over four ft girl. Learned a lesson at very little cost ( although now I will likely have several more snakes!)
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

My triple het bullsnake double clutched last year and will do it again this year. She had a first clutch of 15 eggs already and is going to her pre laying shed right now.

John,
forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1911319,1911319
If she laid her first clutch May 6 that is just one month ago. Did she regain all her weight back in time for the second clutch? Also, has she been with the male for this second clutch? How old is she?

As I said, my female is by herself now since laying her eggs.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Bob,

She took more than 600 grams since she laid.
I don't know her exact age but I think she must be around 6 years old.
Last year was my first breeding with bullsnakes.
After she laid 13 eggs I didn't expect her to lay another clutch but she did.
Only 4 eggs were fertile.
Because of this I introduced the male again to her after her first clutch in the hope that there would be more fertile eggs.
If she makes the effort I prefer to get fertile eggs instead of slugs.

I think you are all set. I've pounded up my pines to regain weight and did not get a second clutch. I did however receive a clutch from a northern the following year without introducing a male, so if she has enough weight she may decide for you that there will be a 2012 clutch....
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Nick Puder
www.rnpreptiles.com

I did however receive a clutch from a northern the following year without introducing a male, so if she has enough weight she may decide for you that there will be a 2012 clutch....
More eggs in 2012, whether with the male or by retained sperm, would be much more healthy for her than this clutch at such a young age. I would not worry so much as I did this time.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Pyro, if she is well fed and regains her weight back, she could double clutch without being reintroduced to the male. She most likely won't, tho, due to her age and size. Seems it is the older, more mature females that double-clutch. They do not have to be rebred. If the male was good and fertile, she will retain sufficient sperm to fertilize a second clutch. I sold that big red female bull of mine last year. She laid about 15 eggs and then double-clutched about 15 more without being reintroduced to the male. I still miss that snake...

I hear folks talking about whether or not to try double-clutch a female, but really it is all up to her...
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Amy Claiborne

Don't let them take your wasted time. J.T.

I hear folks talking about whether or not to try double-clutch a female, but really it is all up to her...
Well, what ever she winds up doing, she will receive all the support I can provide. She did pretty well with this first clutch for just being a two year old and slightly over four feet long. I have only thrown away the one egg that was laid on the substrate, as it didn't look that good after all, but all her other 8 eggs look very good.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Yep, that's all you can do - what you should do. Good luck with that clutch! That really is pretty exciting and a real good clutch for a two year old! My female is eating like a hog! Everytime she sees me she's begging... so I feed her, LOL! 15 eggs has gotta be a big strain. I don't know if she will ever double clutch, but either way, I'll get that weight back on her as soon as I can .
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Amy Claiborne

Don't let them take your wasted time. J.T.

One thing nice about post-lay females, feeding them is a joy! No picky eaters in that crowd! LOL!
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Well, what ever she winds up doing, she will receive all the support I can provide

Then she'll probably be fine
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
1.3 African House Snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
1 corn snake
4.3 Florida Kings
2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
1 Argentine boa
1 Texas Rat Snake
1 checkered garter snake

Thanks. Like I said, a lesson learned at very little cost.
I have a pair of big 08 Pacifics that I thought would have bred this year, but nada.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.