Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, I'm a newbie here...

But seeing my poor snake's dilemma (again) got me to write and see if anyone nearby would like to help us.

It's that time of year again...when Xerxes is constantly moving, twitching, gyrating, coiling, rolling... He's totally bonkers. And when I let him out, he'll just keep on moving, doing laps around the room instead of casually exploring and finding a nice drawer or boot to curl up in like usual. And over the years I've learned that I shouldn't even try to feed him until this is over...

I think it gets worse as he gets older; he's about 11 or 12, beautiful, always healthy, really sweet. I've had him since he was about 6.

Two questions: a) is there any indication that mating in snakes will either increase or decrease life expectancy? (I guess I could probably just look up some papers on this..) My gut tells me that it should decrease life expectancy, as there's some level of stress involved, plus a risk of disease with contact with another snake. Plus, with the assurance of gene propagation, what need is there to keep on living for longer? ...Unless it's the opposite... if mating as a release results in *less* stress...

And b) If there's no negative effect on life expectancy, does anyone have a healthy, happy, docile Arizona Mtn female they'd like to mate? Xerxes has beautiful markings; I can send pictures. I'm sure he'd sire beautiful snakelets.

Thanks in advance for your help!

-bunny

Wow, that's really cool. 30 years!?!? That's absolutely amazing. Sounds promising. Thanks for the information.

Yeah, I realize that a female would likely go through more stress. I was just thinking about the risks involved, and any effects of simply meeting another snake for the first time. (Every so often, I have a nightmare about Xerxes encountering other snakes and fighting, getting injured, etc. Ugh...)

But again, on the other hand, without mating, he's likely burning up A LOT of calories staying on the move like he is. And I know he won't eat, so I won't try to feed him 'til he calms down a little. I don't overfeed him in the first place, so an interruption like this gets me nervous.

-xb

Bunny....
When a kingsnake is wandering in its cage it is doing one of the following 4 things:

1. Looking for a mate.
2. Looking for a meal.
3. Seeking the right temps.
4. Seeking the right humidity level.

Unless it has mites...that will cause them to wander alot too.....and crawl on their backs and do strange things.......

And.....You cannot overfeed a king if a good thermal gradient is provided......When I say good I mean 90F hot spot and 70F or lower if possible cool spot (air temp).......When they are wandering or in the cool spot conserving energy....feed them....If they refuse then it may be the time of the year...Winter or breeding season.........But always question your husbandry and adjust......
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

Thanks J. Yes, that's his gradient. Right now it's about 67 to 89. Humidity is generally 40-50% in my room. Sometimes he acts goofy on the hot side, sometimes on the cold side. Over the years I've learned how to tell when he's hungry. It's a calm wander. What he's he's been doing recently only seems to happen once a year around this time. (It's just that it's more dramatic this time, which I assume is because he's more mature.) Oh, and I'm an entomologist, so mites would definitely not escape my notice. I've got an eye for minutiae. I just checked again when putting his VitaSpray on. (Also, I don't have any other snakes and neither he nor I are in contact with any other snakes.)

This behavior is sometimes smooth, sometimes jerky, very rhythmic, undulating and as far as I've seen, kind of mimics the rolling twisting confusion of snake mating. He's very distracted.

He's been gradually calming down...very slightly, so I'll probably try to feed him soon. I feel so bad when I have to throw a mouse out when he refuses. I put them in the backyard so at least someone else can get a free meal.

-xb

Yep....I believe that if kept correctly any lampropeltis can live 20 plus years and breed all but their first one or two years of life........

I have many snakes in their teens as well as that 30 year old Ruthveni of Shannon's here........

I do think females have a limited amount of eggs that they will produce in a lifetime......But males have an unlimited supply of viable sperm........Kinda like humans.....LOL
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

True. Human females are born with all the eggs they will ever have in their lifetime. So while a girl child is in the womb, her potential sons and daughters are already with her. In a way a mother is a grandmother before her girl child is even born. Snakes are the same. Mother Nature plans ahead! LOL!
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Actually I was wrong; although human females have follicles from birth, snakes develop their follicles anew each breeding season.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.