Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi !

Some of you who has experienced an actual mating between childrenis might be able to help me.

I have previously aquired a small group af childreni. 2 male and a female. They have had 2 clutches of eggs with the previous owner. I was told that they used to be housed seperately. For 3 months I had one of the males and the female living together, but as the female started to refuse to eat I had them seperated for 14 days (she was just shedding). When i put them back together they got very active chasing eachother around the cage day and night. It seemed the male was was a bit of a bully, but as they used to live together, i just waited...

This morning i was quite chocked. I looked as if the male was attacking the female and they were in a a big thight knot. He had a good bite in the middle of her and and was coiled around her as in what looked as a usual feeding attack. Here was no attempt of cloacal contact or tail contact.

I mananged to get him to loosen his grip after 5 minutes by dropping them into the waterbowl.

Does this sound like love or aggression. To me it looked as if he was trying to crush her ?

To that i must add that all my childreni are very nippy and attacks anything around them.

What does it look like when they are mating, do you think I saved her or just boke up a romantic moment ?

I hope you can help me.

Best regards
Torben B.
Denmark

I would separate them immediately. Any chance that the 2 together are males? Have you sexed them again since you got them? Biting is not a part of mating, so I would not keep those two together. Confirm the sexes and make sure you have a male and female together. I keep my trio (1.2) together almost year round and I have never seen such actions.
Justin

Australian Addiction Reptiles

Thank you for the reply,

No, i haven't sexed them, so you might be right. But then it is a mystery why they spendt 2 months together without problems or signs of agression.

I seperated them right away, so it mit might be a good idea to get them sexed when everything has calmed down.

Regard

Torben B.
Denmark

There could be many reasons why 2 males will be fine and then fight, as there are many reasons why 2 male room mates may get along and then a fight will break out. With living things there are no gurantees. They could also be a male and a female and the male just decided that he didn't like the female any more, or the female didn't want the male around, it's just the way it goes, and we as keepers must be ready for the unexpected.
Justin J
Australian Addiction Reptiles

Are you feeding them in their enclosuers. Mine can be a little nippy if she is being fed in her tank also fast moving objects can sometimes confuse her and she will take a quick bite. I generally do not pick her up near her head when she has been settled in ther house for a while, i like to get her from the tail just be the chance i wouls suprise her.I don;t want her to get used to biting. Good luck.