Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've always been a big fan of Black Racers. I had a few over the years, all of them had a temper, but I loved them all. I've never tried to breed them though. There is a herp store in town that ALWAYS has local wild caught Southern Black Racers for sale. I live in an area where wild Southern Blacks are very common and seen on a regular basis. My question is, how would I go about breeding these snakes? I live in south west Florida if the location helps any with breeding info. My downstairs basement-like area gets the seasons, meaning that it stays warm in the summer and cool in the winter. Would that be good to stimulate breeding from local captive racers? Should I fast the snakes during the winter? Any info that you have on breeding these snakes would be GREATLY apreciated. I'm looking to supply this local herp store with CB babies, so they don't have to rely on wild caught racers (which I am very against). Thank you.

Adam

Breeding racers is like breeding any other colubrid, no matter what subspecies. If you want to get some breeding info, I strongly suggest that you read the November 2004 "Ask The Breeder" column. Someone wrote in asking about breeding black racers(and I know the person who wrote that too, very good friend of mine). There is also a book on keeping racers by TFH(their RE series) that talks about breeding them.

As said, you most likely can treat them as your other colubrids. If you are starting with wc, as I suspect, remember they are probably hard-wired for this season and maybe even next. Meaning they have already "cycled" and bred. Some have laid already. (I found a clutch of 19 the other day)and my female also has laid a clutch of 12.
Getting them accustomed to captive life will be your biggest hill to climb and in my experience they will breed with no problems at all once they are comfortable and feeding well.
I will have '05s in two months or so from mine. Possibly everglades racers as well.
:Mark