Snake breeding isn't for the impatient amongst us. It's been over two months since I last wrote, and I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of updates to provide at this stage. We are officially in the first stages of the waiting game.
I last wrote as I was making the final preparations for the start of the breeding season. My adults were being cooled slightly for a couple of weeks, offered a final feed each, checked over and weighed, and Monty's (the females) vivarium was altered to house two adults. I started pairing them up on November 1st, and since then, Ifrit has been placed in with Monty for three days each week, after which he is placed back in his own vivarium for 4 days. After being back in his own vivarium for two days, they are each weighed and offered a small feed on alternate weeks, left alone for a further two days, before the process is repeated the following week.
I have continued this 3 days on / 4 days off routine for two months now. So far, I have not witnessed a mating session (lock) personally, however one of the reasons I moved them up stairs into their own room was to not interrupt or disturb them - so who knows what goes on after dark! I have noticed one or two interesting patterns since I started pairing; Firstly, prior to pairing, Ifrit had been refusing food for about 6 weeks - this is common in breeding age males, so I took this as a sign that he was ready to breed. After his first 3 days in with Monty, he was offered a feed after a further 2 days, which he immediately took and ate. This was the first feed he had accepted in 6 weeks, and he has continued to feed wwith regularity since. Another pattern I have noticed is their behaviour. Whilst separated and each in their own vivariums, for the first 2 days each is relatively inactive (as Royals tend to be). Towards the back end of the week, both become very active and restless - constantly climbing all over the vivarium and the glass doors. Given the opportunity, each one will make a hasty exist through an opened glass door. This isn't especially uncommon for Ifrit, or at least, this became common behaviour as we approached breeding season, but Monty however had never previously made any attempt to escape her vivarium. Each week when I place Ifrit back in with Monty, they each settle down again immediately and go back to been relatively placid and only mildly inquisitive as to each other presence. I can see no reason for them to behave this way when separate, so I will can only assume that this is related to the breeding season - and hopefully a good sign that nature is taking it's course. Time to settle down for a long winter.
In other news: Both Rowntree (female Pastel) and Scully (female Fire) continue to thrive. Rowntree has continued to feed reliably and aggressively since we got her none-feeding issues which led to my acquisition of her from the previous owner, which I'm obviously very relieved about. Scully also is doing very well and is growing nicely (300 grams now) - they grow so fast at that age! The Corn snakes are approaching their natural annual brumation cycle. one has been refusing food for nearly 2 months, and all three have been extremely inactive. Time for a 2 month nap prior to their breeding season in March!
Well, that's it for now - hopefully I'll have some exciting news some time in the New Year. Also, as a final note; this blog hit 1000 page views earlier in the week, so thank you all for reading, and from myself and my reptilian residents, Merry Christmas :)
I last wrote as I was making the final preparations for the start of the breeding season. My adults were being cooled slightly for a couple of weeks, offered a final feed each, checked over and weighed, and Monty's (the females) vivarium was altered to house two adults. I started pairing them up on November 1st, and since then, Ifrit has been placed in with Monty for three days each week, after which he is placed back in his own vivarium for 4 days. After being back in his own vivarium for two days, they are each weighed and offered a small feed on alternate weeks, left alone for a further two days, before the process is repeated the following week.
I have continued this 3 days on / 4 days off routine for two months now. So far, I have not witnessed a mating session (lock) personally, however one of the reasons I moved them up stairs into their own room was to not interrupt or disturb them - so who knows what goes on after dark! I have noticed one or two interesting patterns since I started pairing; Firstly, prior to pairing, Ifrit had been refusing food for about 6 weeks - this is common in breeding age males, so I took this as a sign that he was ready to breed. After his first 3 days in with Monty, he was offered a feed after a further 2 days, which he immediately took and ate. This was the first feed he had accepted in 6 weeks, and he has continued to feed wwith regularity since. Another pattern I have noticed is their behaviour. Whilst separated and each in their own vivariums, for the first 2 days each is relatively inactive (as Royals tend to be). Towards the back end of the week, both become very active and restless - constantly climbing all over the vivarium and the glass doors. Given the opportunity, each one will make a hasty exist through an opened glass door. This isn't especially uncommon for Ifrit, or at least, this became common behaviour as we approached breeding season, but Monty however had never previously made any attempt to escape her vivarium. Each week when I place Ifrit back in with Monty, they each settle down again immediately and go back to been relatively placid and only mildly inquisitive as to each other presence. I can see no reason for them to behave this way when separate, so I will can only assume that this is related to the breeding season - and hopefully a good sign that nature is taking it's course. Time to settle down for a long winter.
In other news: Both Rowntree (female Pastel) and Scully (female Fire) continue to thrive. Rowntree has continued to feed reliably and aggressively since we got her none-feeding issues which led to my acquisition of her from the previous owner, which I'm obviously very relieved about. Scully also is doing very well and is growing nicely (300 grams now) - they grow so fast at that age! The Corn snakes are approaching their natural annual brumation cycle. one has been refusing food for nearly 2 months, and all three have been extremely inactive. Time for a 2 month nap prior to their breeding season in March!
Well, that's it for now - hopefully I'll have some exciting news some time in the New Year. Also, as a final note; this blog hit 1000 page views earlier in the week, so thank you all for reading, and from myself and my reptilian residents, Merry Christmas :)