Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone have any tips for late season breeding? All my snakes were cooled this winter/fall but are just now coming up to breeding size. Is it a lost cause at this point or should I try it anyways? I would have to go and buy a couple males for those females.
I have one adult male cali king with a huge appetite. I tried putting him with my large female adault honduran. He followed her around with his tail up for a while but she just climbed in the water bowl. I know its hard to mix species, but at this point I'm just trying to work with what I've got.
Thoughts

Deinetly try. A lot of people are on their second clutches by this time. However some snakes are late breeders. it all depends on when the female ovulates. She may go in and out of ovulation. Best thing is to keep them together year round so you don't miss any possible breedings (when the female ovulates).

But if your snakes are not bonded (put together during winter) keep a close eye on them so they don't eat each other. You should make sure both the male and female is well fed (especially the female) and hope for the best. If you feed the female all she wants , that may trigger her ovulation.

Males sometimes to go off food during breeding season or when placed near a female. So if you male does not want to eat, that is a good sign.

Good luck and let us know what happens. But by all means it is not to late. I have clucthes year round becaue i keep my snakes housed communaully. So get breedings and clucthes in Dec-March. But mine hav been properly bonded.

Just feed the heck out of the female and don't fret if they freak out when introduced for the first time (usually teh male trying to get out of the cage) and allow them to settle down. keep an eye on them and feed them. You will probably get eggs within the next 30-60 days.

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www.Bluerosy.com

Ok... The problem with that is he is a true cali king. He will kill anything whether he is hungry or not. I intoduced him with my large female hondo because she is a giant and he has not tried to wrap her up. He seems interested but she shook him off a few times. What do you recommend? Can I keep these two together?

Okay, the point is even with 2 cal kings , they won't kill each other if bonded. But your are not bonded so lets move on to you next question on introducing a hondo and Cali king.

the Jurassic Milks are a combo of:
Cal king
Honduran
Florida king

A lot of hybrids are mixed with Cali kings:

Cali x Corn
Pueblin x Cali king

etc...

The thing is with NON-bonded pairings you take the same risk when breeding. Just as if you introduce two cali kings during breeding season . Which is what most people do. But they take certain precautions:

Feed up both. Espcially the females
WATCH the snakes when introduced. or at least keep an eye on them throughout the first 12 hours

Now to the final question. Will a Cal king and a Honduran breed. The anser is yes. But it is one of the most difficult hybrid pairings. the reason is Honduran are very strong. So even if your male Cal king is on top of her and biting her neck. Hondurans will whip their tails around and it is difficult for the Cali to insert his hemipenis. Though he will keep trying.

So just because you see activity (male on top of the female) does not mean you have a successful breding. if the male is doing this , he will keep trying for days. So hope for the best and just leave them together and maybe you will get a successful copulation.
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www.Bluerosy.com

I would not keep these together! First off they are very different. Many Hybrid breeders have to trick their snakes into breeding because they don't have natural urges to breed together. Since they are so different you are asking for trouble, bonded or not. Doug is right try waiting and buy appropriate mates for each one instead of just throwing those two together because that's what you have at the moment. I am some one who actually owns a few hybrids even though, I don't really condone the practice. Cal Kings and Hondurans are pretty cheap these days so try matching them up properly. God luck!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

I don't totally disagree with the whole hybrid thing but please don't just breed for the sake of saying you bred.......and all you have is mismatched species........
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

Jorge,
How many years decades of experience do you have breeding hybrids? none?

So why do you post here and give advice?
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www.Bluerosy.com

"but at this point I'm just trying to work with what I've got. ..Thoughts?"

Yes, I do have some thoughts,...how about buying another same species mate for either one?.

I am actually looking forward to seeing some advice on "bonding" kingsnakes and Garter Snakes here pretty soon..LOL!!!

I knew it wouldn't take long for this to start up all over again...............*sigh*

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Ok Ok I had my doubts in the first place. I was not to hot about the idea in the first place. She is much bigger than he is and it probably wont work. Its to much effort for the end result... That is a bunch of snakes that no one will want!
Thanks for the info guys.

Doug,

If you don't like hybrids don't go into the hybrid forum. It's as simple as that. Lastly, hybrids are here to stay are very beautiful and spreading thru out the colubrid world. So deal with it and move on.