Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My female variable king just laid 4 slugs three days ago. I have fed her one small and one regular sized mouse since. She has been in contact with some female milks but no males. I even had my snakes sexed today just to be sure. I brought home a proven male variable and introduced them right away. I read in Applegates book that a double clutch should be done within three days so I tossed him in. There doesn't seem to be much action, perhaps they need to get acquainted? Should I leave them together at all times except for feeding? When I do feed them, how long should I keep them apart. The breeding pair was kept together in the pet store but I just bought the male for my female.

When you separate them feed them right away....wait a day (or less) and re introduce.......Watch them careful if they aren't "Used to" each other.....you will have no problem with some, but others that are "new" to one another you may........

I will have to admit that I think it may be too late in the season for thayeri breeding unless they were brumated until April or so........It is very difficult to get thayeri to reproduce without a brumation too........

Also.....Feeding a female heavily after she lays will trigger another ovulation........
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

They are curled up together under the hiding spot How long do you think I should leave them together before I feed them? You say that feeding heavy may trigger another ovulation, should I just take him out for a week or so and then re intoduce or just feed her every few days and just keep putting him back in?

>>They are curled up together under the hiding spot How long do you think I should leave them together before I feed them? You say that feeding heavy may trigger another ovulation, should I just take him out for a week or so and then re intoduce or just feed her every few days and just keep putting him back in?

Just feed every few days and put him back in with her......
Check and see if they will eat together.......
Usually if the male is wanting to breed they do not want to feed so you can feed them together.......

They will acclimate (bond) to each other with some time....especially if brumated together over this coming winter......then they will be able to be housed together all the time.......Even during feeding, but you can separate if you feel as though it is the safest thing to do....
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

Thanks for your help... I took him away from his mate at the reptile shop! Perhaps I should go and get her too

I took him away from his mate at the reptile shop! Perhaps I should go and get her too
Totally! You may have better luck with the pair that are used to each other and the same species.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.