Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Rookie question:

I have a male albino ruthveni and a female melanistic thayeri that I was hoping to breed together.

Just for the heck of it I put them together this week. The male attempted (unsuccessfully) to breed with the female for about 5 minutes, I turned my back and when I turned around again he was biting her on the side of the head. I seperated them b'cos I wasn't sure if he was trying to eat her. Do male kings bite females during mating??

Thanks.
-----
"Umm Marge, did you find my snake farm? I'm going to farm and sell snakes"- homer simpson

I've seen it in my cal kings and in my corns. If the male is grabbing the female near the head with his mouth WITH NO COILS around the female, then I would say that it is normal breeding behavior. But if either one is putting coils around the other, then separate them.

Also, why are you attempting to breed them now, as compared to brumating them now and then breeding them in the spring?

Kerby...

I have been moving milks around before...both males and females present, and have had the opportunity to be "bitten" by a horny male....they dont attempt to hold with teeth but with the outer jaw! A definate difference between feeding and mating behavior. But I will second Kirby, what are you doing breeding them this time of year? It is common for them to have UNPRODUCTIVE sex this time of year(though I have not yet met ANY UNPRODUCTIVE sex myself!!LOL). This cant be of much benefit to you I wouldnt think...Jeff

I know that the standard protocol is to breed after they come out of hibernation but my apartment is 75 degrees in the dead of winter with all the windows open (and I'm in NJ!) so since I can't really cool them down anyway I figured I'd just put em together and see what happens. Thanks for the replies guys!

Bryan
-----
"Umm Marge, did you find my snake farm? I'm going to farm and sell snakes"- homer simpson

Keeping them together at any non-productive breeding time is usually detrimental to their breeding potential. Also, if the male is breeding than he usually isnt EATING....Most people keep their animals seperate and without liasons because the more they can eat,the bigger they can get to produce the following year. Kept like this its my bet your animals will not only not produce but likely wont grow and will eventually stop even non-producitve sex....think long term here,Jeff