Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do female BP's retain sperm from previous matings?
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Di

...certianly from matings within the same breeding season, which leads to the question of dual or multiple paternity.

There is some minimal evidence of sperm storage longer than 1 breeding season in BPs. There is a greater body of evidence in other snake species.

SJM

I recently bought a snake from a guy who reported breeding two ghosts together in 2002 and producing all ghosts. In 2003 he bred that ghost female to a pastel but again produced all ghosts, no pastels. The pastel was not from a ghost crossed line. He was pretty bummed about it too (hey, at least they weren’t all normal). I drove down and met the guy and he seemed honest to me so I believe the story. Him and his partner ended up having to fork over big bucks to buy a pastel het ghost male since they didn't produce one to use on their sizable ghost collection.

I asked this question a few months ago and I think a vet answered me about what happen with one of his snakes that hadn't seen a male in 10-20 years (I can't remember how long) and it layed eggs 2 times. he told me a long word the started with p to search in the archives to read about it. anyone else remember this word?

n/p
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AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

NAMED BEST REPTILE STORE IN LOS ANGELES

...my female hadn't been with another BP in the previous 9 years, and this other BP may have also been a female. The first clutch was laid about 4 years after pairing and it was infertile. Her second clutch was laid about 9 years after pairing and it contained 4 fertile eggs, 3 which hatched and the fourth went full term but didn't hatch.
Scott J. MIchaels DVM