Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The past two week the temperature has been alot cooler here in Ohio, and during that time i seperated my male BCI from my female BCI for feeding reasons. I put them back together today, and at the moment haven't attempted to cycle them and such, The are both relatively coiled up in a large cork log at the moment. I pryed around a little with a flashligh and his tailed is wrapped around hers, and their cloacas from the best that i can see are in alignemnt. Now i have no idea if this is just pure coincidence or not, and i dare not to pry further and disturb them just in case there is a rare chance they are copulating. THe male has from time to time exhibited mating behavior but, i havn't noticed any recently. So is this possible during this off season? I am just getting too excited for my own good? Is there any shure way to tell perhaps without disturbing them, or after this potential copulation? SHould i restrain from handling the female in days to come?
Anyhelp, even if it "bursts my ballon" would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt

Hi Matt -

Just to answer the part of your question about whether or not they are really copulating - Once most boids get down to business, so to speak, you can actually check for intromission by locating their tails amidst their coils and very slowly and gently prying them apart just a little. As long as you take it easy, it doesn’t seem to bother them too much and they probably won’t disengage, although they definitely try to keep you out of there by putting a little more squeeze on! To give you an idea – a pair of blood pythons is pictured below. The male's tail is at the bottom of the photo.

-Joan

well i attempted to do what you said, i am nervous about doing so, b/c i would hate to cause premature release, but i didn't get very far when my male started hissing, which is very very atypical of his behavior he is an educational snake, and i have only heard him his once before, and that was years ago shortly after i purchased him. so i decided to abandon the effort, if he was inclined to hiss then something is going on, copulation or otherwise....

Any other suggestions?

-Matt

THis is what i have observed short of pulling them apart to actually see if there is insertion. The male has been lying along her length from 6:30 to the present. THeir cloaca's were in allignment, i know this by any means does not prove copulation. The male however had the remainder portion of his tail erect in the air and slowley was waving it from side to side, very slowley. This continued to about 1am, where i have now checked in on them, and there apears to be no more cloacal allignment and his tail is no longer errect. But rather now he is muscularly carressing his tail against hers and it appers to be tickling her with spurs. So is it possible that there was insertion before and he is now attempting a second round? Or is it most likely that this has been coutrship since the beginging. I have made no efforts yet as to cycle them, as it is "off season." Perhaps im getting too excited?

Thanks for any and all help,

Matt