Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just out of morbid curiosity, does anyone do this? I have a female great basin gopher, about 6 years old right now, and I'd love to see what her offspring look like, but I don't have the space to house a mate for her. I know people do studs for a lot of animals; does anyone do it for snakes?

ya, I've pimped out snakes before for half the clutch . But only to people I know and are with in driving distance.
You can talk to people in herp clubs in or around your area and see what you find.

Shaun

Yes, it is done each season. They are generally called "breeder loans". It is done for multiple reasons. Outcrossing and diversifying bloodlines, especially in cases where the snakes are now protected and new gene pools aren't available is one reason. The clutches and/or revenue of the babies is generally split between the two owners. Trades and/or combinations of trades and money is sometimes done. What locality is your female if you know? You want to match up locality if you can. If you can't, you want to make sure you keep a record of when you bred her and to what male and make sure everyone who gets an offspring has this information and keep track of who got a baby from you.

Terry Parks

I was told she was a Great Basin, and that when I purchased her she was 2 years old, which puts her around 6 years now. She's just shy of 5'. Here's a picture if that helps any.

Also, how would I go about finding someone in my area willing to do this? I don't know anyone who breeds snakes, let alone anyone who would have another Great Basin specifically.
Picture

She does look like she has Great Basin in her. She looks like she may have some Pacific too. Nice aberrant pattern behind the head. I don't know where you are located. I'm in Bakersfield, CA. If you breed her in California or Utah, the breeder will need to add her to a propagation permit or get one if they don't have one. No biggie as far as obtaining one in CA, but she will need to be listed on one.

Check and see if there are any herp clubs or organizations in your area. That's usually a good place to start.

Terry Parks

I'm located in Maryland... do you happen to know if the permit would be necessary out here?

Great Basin gophersnakes are native to California. A native Propagation Permit is required to breed native reptiles in California. I don't know the laws or regulations governing Great Basin gophersnakes in Maryland. You can post this question on the Herp Laws Forum on this website.

Terry Parks