Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi! I have a couple of captive born P.baroni. I have both since they were hatchlings the male is born in 2000 (near 6ft now) and the female in october 2001 (a bit less than 5ft). I've cooled them last year at a temp of 18 degrees celsius without introducing them together. I have placed em together in september after cooling. In november the daytime temps were 85F while night temps were around 65-68F. The male stopped eating while the female continued eating well. In the middle of december i've noticed a strange white fluid on branches often in the morning. I've supposed it to be sperm relased by the male during copulation. I've never seen copulation but one time in witch i've found both on branches with the tails paired but they were not moving (Is it normal during copulation in P.species??) Now, 3 months later he female is in shed and seems a bit enlarged in from the middl of her body to the tail. The strange thing is that she will continue to eat, is this normal? The temps now are around 86F during all day and night. My questions are: Do you think she will be gravid? Is 3 month a right amount of time to expect egg laying in P.baroni? Do you think that the strange fluid into the cage will be a good and sufficent sign of copulation?(i've eared that also other snakes will do that..)may the female cntinue to eat also a few days before egg laying?(one of my corns will do that). Thank you in advice for every help! This is my first attempt to breed that specie and i've never found any good infos about the copulation and egg laying.
Here's one pic of my female, taken a few minutes ago.
Thank you and sorry for the long post
Flavio

I've placed em together THIS YEAR IN SEPTEMBER BEFORE COOLING. I've done this for a sudden problem of space, i've planned to cool them since early november at a themp of 18C night and day like the past year, but after i've noticet possible signs of copulation i've raised the daytime temps at a normal level (like GTP's) and after a month or so i've switched the NTL at 86 just like DTL
Flavio

Here's a pic of my near 6ft male

Very nic esnakes Flavio. If/when she lays how will you incubate(what temps)?

Thank you! If she'll lay her eggs, i'll incubate em at around 88F and 90-100% air humidity level on near dry vermiculite.
Flavio

I hope it works out well for you, I plan to breed my P. aestivus possibly next year.

Hello! She will shed in a copuple of days, after shed i'll give her a vooden nest box with vermiculite inside placed on branches.
I love all Philodryas species. Can you give me some infos about P,aestiveus? Does they need cooling to induce breeding? Do they require the same temps as P.baroni?
Flavio

I had a small article on cooling P. a. It was recomended but not really stressed, a breif wet period was also recomended.

I imagine I will try both