Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Any suggestions will be appreciated. I'm trying to breed a lavender female cal king to an albino male cal king. They are the same size and age(3). Tried three days ago after her shed, put him in her house and she grabbed him mid body and wrapped him up. Got her off of him, decided maybe she's hungry. Fed her three mice last nite, then today, put her in his house. She grabbed him by the head and wrapped him up. She probes female, looks and feeds like a female. Any suggestions? THanks in advance.

I have bred cal kings before and never had this problem. Usually it is the male grabbing the female just to hold her for breeding.
-----
----------------------------------------------------------
Amy Claiborne

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

This is not unheard of with Cal kings - we used to call these females "black widows". Sometimes a female will attack one male but not another based on scent.

Timing may be off. In another week or two, she may breed willingly. Nevertheless, this is one female you will have to supervise even if she breeds. Make sure you put them together when you can stay there and monitor.

I had a really beautiful black and white female many years ago that was a "black widow" at age 3 and 4. She could not be trusted with any male, but if I placed her in a female's cage as an experiment, she did nothing. Later, she seemed to give up the male-eating behavior and was fine from then on. They are definitely individuals. Part of the fun of Cal kings is that they can be a bit spicy at times yet still not what I would consider aggressive (most of the time anyway).

Thanks. Black widow, that's great. I definitely watch all snakes for a bit after I put them together. I do have a big old coastal male that I could try, but he isn't what I want to breed to her. I'll wait a couple of weeks and try them again. Do you think I could hold her head, lol? Thanks again.
-----
----------------------------------------------------------
Amy Claiborne

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

Holding her head, lol, I doubt that would work, but I admire your determination!

Another great trick is to cool them in Winter together in one enclosure, where they have access to each other. She will not eat him when cooled, and it really seems to get the female much more receptive to that male in the coming Spring. You may want to lower temps first then put them together so she is not inclined to attack.

You will have to proceed carefully, as she clearly has that desire to eat males. The cooling together method may fix that for you.

Thanks, Mark. I'm dissappointed she won't cooperate. It may get too warm in my cool room here in Fla. To put them together. I'll try her once more in a couple of weeks.
-----
----------------------------------------------------------
Amy Claiborne

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

sounds like you female is wanting more food.
body fat will trigger an ovulation.
i feed my breeders every 3-4 days after brumation to get the fat reserves up. males to because soon they will go off feed once they key to the females ovulation.
good luck this is what works for me.

,,,,,,,,,thomas davis
-----
Morphs... just like baseball cards BUT ALIVE, how cool is that???

my website www.barmollysplace.com

I'm feeding her well. My males have started refusing. Guess I'll keep feeding her and try again in a couple of weeks. Thanks!
-----
----------------------------------------------------------
Amy Claiborne

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