Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello Everyone!Like I was saying in my post the other day,I have been swapping my male back an forth between my 2 females!Niether one of these females would eat a large rat as normally done,They would like play around with it but not eat it!They bothe did accept a small rat,the weird thing is niether one reticulated around it as they would normally do!I finally got my male to eat last night he had a nights rest an about noon today he was up trying to get out again!So I put him back in with a female,now bothe of these females look like they could explode,he didnt want anything to do with the largest female,could she be gravid,does the male know this,does he know his job is done?If the female is gravid do the night drops stop an do I need to make sure that the night temps stay a constant temp threw the pregnancy?Any an all information would be greatly appriciated!!!!!Thanks again!Eric[Hypoboa]

I don't usually post on this kinda stuff, for the chance that someone who disagrees, will bad-mouth me -- but I want to know more about what exactly you are doing.
I usually feed my snakes every 10 days thru the year, and in mid- to late august I quit feeding my males, and offer 1 or 2 small meals to the females. Then I introduce them and I don't feed the males anymore until after breeding, or all attempts of breeding are done (2-4 months). If the females aren't being courted in the first 3-5 days, I separate them for a couple of weeks, and feed the female a small meal (keep them small), then try again. I think that slowing/stopping there feedings, is one of the main things to do in "cycling" boas. Other than that, I try to make the room a little darker - not dark dark - but I cover the window part way. And I hang a sheet a couple feet away from the cages, so when I walk in the room, they don't get disturbed. I cut a few holes to check on them, but that's it
When you said that you saw them copulating, did you actually see the end of the hemi-pene inserted--- or squeezing, and spurring? The squeezing, and spurring can go on for weeks, that's courtship.
I think that if you wanted to breed the male to both of your females, then put all three in the same cage, and leave them alone. If it seems that they're going at it for awhile, and then they stop, I'd leave the male in until the females go into their shed.
As far as weather you should raise the night temps -- I never lower the temps (some may disagree), I keep mine at a constant 80-82 cool side, and 88-90 hot side, that way I'm not guessing. I think the light cycle, and feeding cycle are enough for breeding boas.
These are only my opinions, and if some disagree, please share, but with maturity. -----Thanks, David