Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am hoping to breed my pure hog island boas when they are old enough. I got them in November last year. I wanted to ask a few questions because I can't find any caresheets that answer my questions. I will list them.
1) Should I house my Hog Islands seperately during the year until they are ready to breed?
2) How long should I brumate them for and at what temperature?
3) When should I bring them into brumation and when should I bring them out?
4) How long should I keep them together when they are breeding and can I just let them breed in the females cage?
I was wondering if you could make it resonably easy for me as I am only 14?
katie
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thanks in advance

1) Should I house my Hog Islands seperately during the year until they are ready to breed?

Yes they should be housed seperately.

2) How long should I brumate them for and at what temperature?

Opinions very. Some breeders only gradually drop the night time temp over a couple months to as low as 70-72 . Others let the temperature drop slowly until the low reaches around 72 for both night and day. Other breeders do not change their temps at all and merely put the adult boas together in September or October. Most breeders stop feeding a month prior to cooling and then place the boas together when they start cooling. Typically cooling lasts from Oct through Dec. but boas have been bred throughout the year. I highly reccomend VPI's boa video. You can order it from their website.

3) When should I bring them into brumation and when should I bring them out?

Usually they are cooled Oct-Dec.

4) How long should I keep them together when they are breeding and can I just let them breed in the females cage?

Leave then together until a week after the female has ovulated. You can usually tell when she ovulates by a huge football shaped swelling in the female boa. The male will usually show no interest in her after this. They can breed in the female's cage.

Gus Renfro has had some very good posts on this subject so if you search the forum you may find some great info. I beleive a lot if this info is at his site, Rio Bravo Reptiles, just click the link below.

http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/care_breedingboas.htm
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Jared Douglas

Sorry here is the link.

www.riobravoreptiles.com/care_breedingboas.htm
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Jared Douglas

I was also wondering at what age would you recommend that I start breeding them and what age would it be best to stop breeding them??
katie
xxxx
thanks in advance

Most BCI are adult size at four years of age but breeding size varies depending on how much they are fed. It can range from 2 1/2 - 5 years depending on feeding schedule.
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Jared Douglas

If I am feeding my hogs a mouse a week and they are around 3/4 of a foot how long would you guess it would take for them to get adult size and how big would they have to be before they are ready to breed because I don't want to breed them too early and cause problems.
katie
xxxxxxxxx
thanks in advance

You will need to switch them to eating rats as soon as possible. Feeding a good sized meal weekly should get them to adult size in 3-4 years.
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Jared Douglas

Ok thanks for your help

Hi, I am also wondering how I would house the neonates when they are born if they ever are born?? Does anyone thing they could send me any pictures of how they house their baby snakes??

Also I have read on a site that you should never brumate hogg island boas if you want to breed them and instead you should just make them fatter and maybe slightly overweight. Is this true??

Also shoude I start breeding them in around the 3rd week of December and leave them together till around Febuary???

If I were to breed them at a later part in their life should I do anything now to prepare them??

At the moment they are in the same cage but I will soon be seperating them. Should I be seperating them??

Do I need to keep them at any certain temperature during the year and should the temperature be different when I breed them??

If an experienced Hogg Island Boa breeder goes on this forum could you please answer these questions as I have read about how they are extinct in the wild and so I would love to breed my hoggs as they are pure.

Katie
xxxxx
thanks in advance

It sounds like you need more help than I can offer here. You seriously need to buy a book called the Boa Manual or buy the VPI video. Here is a link to a caresheet. This will offer you some basic husbandry info.

coloherp.org/cb-news/archive/careshts/boacare.php
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Jared Douglas