Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all, I'm breeding boa's for the first time ever and here is the situation. I began cooling November 1st and also intoduced the male at this time. Since then I have witnessed 13 lock ups. I attempted to feed each of them once in december and both refused. I have not witnessed ovulation but they have not locked up in atleast a weak. I had them around 72 degrees temp during the day and 67 at night from Nov 1st to January 1st. Since then I have added a heat sorce and rose the tempiture to 77 during the day and 72 at night. Tonight I seperated them and attempted to feed. He refused, but she accepted. Should she have eaten if she was or is already gravid? I was planning on keeping them apart and raising the tempts to 90 - 92

Thanks for the help and any suggestions.

First meals each since the end of October....

If I were you I would raise the temps, 67 at night is low. I keep my snake room at 78 to 82 at all times and then give my boas a basking spot with some flex watt heat tape that stays around 85 to 90. Keeping your boas cold will give them a cold. It's typical for males to not feed during breeding season even if they are not with a female but if they are kept too cold they will not be able to digest properly. Are you keeping a basking spot for your boas? I have noticed with my boas is sometimes they wiil stop all breeding for a week or so, at this time I seperate them for a few days and clean there cages and give them a meal, then after a week I will put them back together. I am by no means an expert at breeding boas, there is allot to learn about breeding boas. Good luck
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True Redtails

after 13 lock ups? They have had a basking spot and now that they have had a meal, I will raise the basking temp to 92 or so...

You say "lockups" did you actually see they "hemiweaner" go into the female? I had a pair last year that were locked up for 4 months but I did not see copulation she also did not ovulate witch sucked but thats just the way it goes. I would keep breeding them until you see ovulation and make sure it is ovulation and not the last meal she ate the day before.
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True Redtails

I've reached in on multiple occations and physically seen copulation.

good one, tha tmade my day...
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Jeremy J. Anderson
snakepimp.com
gemstatereptiles.com
Of course it's my opinion, I said it, didn't I?
Breeding season is always just around the corner....JOY!!!

If you keep messing around with those cool temps, you will surely give those animals R.I. and then you might as well freeze them in the freezer. I am sure,you probably heard from some " knowledgeable breeder " or " snake book " that you have to cool your snakes, but it is entirely FALSE.GOD only knows, how many out there already have R.I. in their collection and do not even know it or do not even care or just do not say anything.Here is the " SECRET " to breeding boas " THERE IS NO SECRET. " They breed when they want to and most of the strategies that have been passed down over the years has been proven " nill and void " when it comes to their production percentages. You may have a pair of boas that will breed for months and nothing will happen or you may have a pair that will start breeding and the female will ovulate two weeks later and the job is done. Your most successful breeders " wether they like it or not " have not broke the " sacred breeding code " they simply take good care of their animals and they are " somewhat " rewarded for it.It is O.K. and actually recommended to allow your boas a cool spot in the mid - high 70s with the hot spot always being on. This will allow proper thermoregulation. If you cool them to many more times the way " you stated " it will surely be a eventual death sentence......Good Luck and GOD BLESS..........Johnson Herp