Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As I was cleaning cages last night, I decided to reintroduce the snow and lav just to see if things would fare better.

She nonchalantly cruised aroung his cage for a while, and he casually investigated her. All of a sudden he grabbed her mid-body and held on as she struggled. He began to pulse, so it seemed safe enough. He then tried to line his vent up with hers. She broke away and he flew after her and grabbed her just above her vent. He let go and I separated them. She had pinpricks of blood in both places he grabbed her.

I bred kingsnakes once before and cornsnakes a couple times, but this is the most aggressive behavior I've ever witnessed. Sound normal? I realize she may not be ready, but I figure it wouldn't hurt to introduce them once a week to see if they synchronize their body clocks.

Thanks!

fliptop

If I didn't know any better I would guess they were both males...but i believe you said that is not the case? In my limited experience I go by a simple rule. If one snake bites the other and they ball up, seperate them. Usually the bite is not very ferocious and close to the head. In the middle of the body seems odd BUT, maybe you're snake is super horny? Maybe he is just way ahead of how the female is thinking.....and in a way it could be a good thing? Meaning when she is ready, he will also be ready. I don't think your male is acting on some sort of feeding response, but if he is feeding, a full belley may slow him down, and also make sure the female has not ate anything for a day or a few days before introduction in case he does smell the scent of rodents on her[which is unlikely], just guessing here.... Luckily I have not had to deal with what you're going through with this pair, but one word of advice.....if they do start to breed normally....NEVER leave these two alone. You may come back to find only one snake in the cage. Tom Stevens

Whenever I first read his story, my first thought was the male had a stronger feeding response. The female "noticed" this and tried to high tail it out of there. That's the most I can make sense out of it.

Mike
Michael's Place

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Michael's Place has updated better caresheets
Helmz777@aol.com
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Thanks, Tom. Yeah, they're a pair, and it wasn't a feeding grab (I did once feed the male a nonfeeding cornsnake I produced, and it was a different scene, to say the least). The male's not eating right now, anyway, refusing mice last night--the female chomped down three.

Yeah, I'm afraid of leaving these two alone, hence me wanting to know more about this aggression, if it's commonplace and if I got lucky the first time around breeding kings.

Thanks again,

fliptop

I'd say keep putting them together yet? Has the female shed yet since out of brumation?

Mike
Michael's Place

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Michael's Place has updated better caresheets
Helmz777@aol.com
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake

lol, meant to say *still, not yet.

Mike
Michael's Place

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Michael's Place has updated better caresheets
Helmz777@aol.com
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake

I know that with a lot of reptiles, especially lizards, it is normal for the male to bite and hold the female with his jaws during mating. I would bet that your male is doing the same thing - I say this because I feel that with kingsnakes it would be very obvious if he was biting her with hopes of eating her.
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Matt from Minnesota

Hi,

It sounds as though she just isn't ready yet. It is still very early in the season, heck my kings are still brumating, so it may take her several more weeks to be in receptive condition. Keep offering small meals and introduce them weekly. Once she starts growing follicles, she should be more receptive.

Will

I would agree with Will. The female is not ready. It sounds like also that your are putting the female in the males cage. If this is the case reverse it and put the male in her cage. There is no right way to do it as far as who goes to who place it is just who ever has the nicer palce. LOL Once a week intro should keep you from missing your "window" with this pair. Also I would give the pair more time. I have a female that wraps my male every time he goes in her cage in a feed response. I go ahead and seperate them and the musk that the male releases in the process of being "eaten" seems to change the whole setting. The female then crawls up to the male goes in front of him and "gapes" her vent. She is apperantly a kinky slut. But thats cool cuz they are fun to and the male seems to like the whole S&M thing cuz he hops right on. I would relax a bit and give them some time. My unresponsive females right now usually end up at the other end of the cage after a hour of running and I try again a few days later. Also try some sexxy music and some wine. LOL
Later Jason