Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all.. Just woke up my mex mex pair this week. Will be feeding the heck out of them.. but want to know how do I tell when they are ready to meet? How can I tell she is ready for male and not food???

I missed the mark last year and really want these to breed..my first kingsnake breeding..

Any tips?

B
**photo of male.. having issues with photo of female**

>>Hi all.. Just woke up my mex mex pair this week. Will be feeding the heck out of them.. but want to know how do I tell when they are ready to meet? How can I tell she is ready for male and not food???
>>
>>I missed the mark last year and really want these to breed..my first kingsnake breeding..
>>
>>Any tips?

If all you have is one pair why don't you pair them up and separate for feeding? You will NEVER miss the window of opportunity this way, but I hope you keep them well fed or you will end up with just one alive snake.

After a few meals start palpating the female. Let the snake slither through your hands as you press gently on her ventral scales....You will feel a "row of pearls" when she is starting to ovulate. This is USUALLY right around the time the female is in a shed cycle. Many call this shed cycle after brumation a pre ovulation shed, but I have had female kingsnakes ovulate before and after this shed...sometimes not until the female
sheds two or even three times after brumation......LOL

One thing to remember is the fact that caloric intake will allow the female to produce egg follicles.........So feed her as much as she wants.....Your male may not even want to eat until after breeding....that is why it is so important to feed them well prior to brumation......

Good luck.....I really like Mex Mex too.......
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

I stuffed the hell out of them before cooling. Female took 2 rats last night, male only took 1. I will be offering food every week and as much as they want. I don't keep together as I LIKE THESE SNAKES. And do not trust a kingsnake to wait for food.

Both snakes are about 6 years old and proven so I should get eggs...if I get the timing right.

thanks

Billie
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Http://www.myspace.com/oregonherpaholic - Educational Show & Tell.

>>Both snakes are about 6 years old and proven so I should get eggs...if I get the timing right.

Yep...timing of ovulation.......by palpation is the best method.

Good luck as I would love to see what your mex mex produce......I like the nuchal striping and donut saddles on the one you posted.......
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

Thanks.. The offspring of the male has the same stripe on the neck. And the female is almost pit black with blood red saddles...can't get the photo up here but she is just awesome.

>>Thanks.. The offspring of the male has the same stripe on the neck. And the female is almost pit black with blood red saddles...can't get the photo up here but she is just awesome.

Cool...it will be interesting to see what their offspring look like in a couple years.
I am thinking you will get some that turn black and some that don't........probably alot that turn dark but not black female.

How old is the offspring of the male?

And.....use Photobucket and upload photos here with the IMG code.
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

thanks for tips. I used to be good with graphics before they improved the Internet..lol.
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female
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The female pic did not work....
That male looks very nice....
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...