Breeding:
A winter dormancy period is required prior to breeding. This dormancy period is often referred to as hibernation or brumation. It is a 10 - 12 week period in which the room temperature is allowed to drop to a constant 55F.
Two weeks prior to the cooling period, it is important to cease feeding and allow snakes to pass all material from their digestive tracts. Clean fresh drinking water should be available at all times. Brumating snakes should be checked regularly for signs of respiratory infections, weight loss and other negative symptoms. Animals that show signs of stress during this period should be removed from hibernation, warmed up and treated accordingly. They may be reintroduced to brumation when their symptoms disappear if time allows.
Breeding may occur anywhere from three to twelve weeks after emergence. The females are placed into the males cage for breeding. Ovulation in females usually occurs after shedding and is evident by a posterior tightness or swelling. Ovulating females are usually greeted rapidly and enthusiastically by males ready to court. Courtship activities can be instigated in non-willing males by placing another male of similar size into the same cage. Combat behavior usually follows immediately.
Four to thirteen eggs may be produced in as little as 30 days after breeding. Gravid females will go through a pre-partum shed about eight to ten days prior to laying. A nest box containing moist sphagnum moss should be introduced to the cage before the female enters this shed cycle. It is not a bad idea to remove the water bowl immediatly after the pre-partum shed so that the eggs are not deposited in it. Clean fresh water must be reintroduced immediatly after egg deposition as the females are usually dehydrated and will head straight for water after laying.
The eggs are incubated in medium of vermiculite and water mixed at a 1:1 ratio by weight. The eggs are partially buried under the vermiculite and incubated at 80 - 82F. 100% humidity should be maintained throughout the 60 - 80 day incubation period.
A winter dormancy period is required prior to breeding. This dormancy period is often referred to as hibernation or brumation. It is a 10 - 12 week period in which the room temperature is allowed to drop to a constant 55F.
Two weeks prior to the cooling period, it is important to cease feeding and allow snakes to pass all material from their digestive tracts. Clean fresh drinking water should be available at all times. Brumating snakes should be checked regularly for signs of respiratory infections, weight loss and other negative symptoms. Animals that show signs of stress during this period should be removed from hibernation, warmed up and treated accordingly. They may be reintroduced to brumation when their symptoms disappear if time allows.
Breeding may occur anywhere from three to twelve weeks after emergence. The females are placed into the males cage for breeding. Ovulation in females usually occurs after shedding and is evident by a posterior tightness or swelling. Ovulating females are usually greeted rapidly and enthusiastically by males ready to court. Courtship activities can be instigated in non-willing males by placing another male of similar size into the same cage. Combat behavior usually follows immediately.
Four to thirteen eggs may be produced in as little as 30 days after breeding. Gravid females will go through a pre-partum shed about eight to ten days prior to laying. A nest box containing moist sphagnum moss should be introduced to the cage before the female enters this shed cycle. It is not a bad idea to remove the water bowl immediatly after the pre-partum shed so that the eggs are not deposited in it. Clean fresh water must be reintroduced immediatly after egg deposition as the females are usually dehydrated and will head straight for water after laying.
The eggs are incubated in medium of vermiculite and water mixed at a 1:1 ratio by weight. The eggs are partially buried under the vermiculite and incubated at 80 - 82F. 100% humidity should be maintained throughout the 60 - 80 day incubation period.
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