First hook-ups for me!!

Congrats!! Awesome pairing, I'm definitely a fan of anything Charcoal, and those two are SUCH good examples of their morphs! :cheers:

Jessicat,

thank you!!! I too LOVE charcoal based morphs...it's obvious i think..anyway..the easy part is done...now we just keep putting him to her..to ensure we get the desired results...then we....pray,cuss,bang my head against the wall..run in circles...chew fingernails(what there are of them)..pull out hair(what there is left)....yeah...I got this!

Something to consider....Some may say that leaving a pair of snakes together for prolonged times might be stressing the female, but when you consider how little execise our captive snakes get, it may do more good than harm. I have observed corn snakes that have been left together during breeding season and if you leave some hide spots the female knows how to become untouchable. I have seen the females curl up in a hide or in a corner and leave the males no option but to curl up along side of them. I also have noticed that the males do tire and give up for periods of time. So it's not like the female is constantly running from Peppe le Pue! When you consider that the prime suspect for egg binding is females that become lethargic, it may do some good for her to get some exercise. Leaving them together at least for extende periods may also ensure that the male is in there when the female is ready for him. I have heard of infertile or partiall infertile clutches being blamed for bad timing. I can tell you this...every female I leave with it's mate gets gravid. Now after I am sure she is nearing her time to lay, and she is swelled with eggs, I do remove the male to give her the peace she needs. Our way of thinking isn't always the best for the animals. Think about it!

I start planned exercise for the females after they are done breeding and continue till they go into their pre-lay shed. I'm too nervous to leave them together.

Honestly guys & gals....

I can see both sides of this coin. leaving the male in with her would most certainly ensure that the pair mate on thier terms,while also ensuring she would get PLENTY of exercise in the process. but flip that coin..and we are dealing with the unseen & potentially fatal "Diease" called stress. So i think if a person were to leave them together say..overnight...then 3 days off then overnight...would she not get some excercise but still not be so stressed that it might have an adverse effect on the development of eggs?? Just trying to see it both ways i guess... Also, she..the Ultramel charcoal...is a Serious Strike & coil kind of gal...I always give the tail (of the mouse) a few tugs...just to ensure shes sqeezing the daylights out of the mouse...I've read that if you do this...the act of squeezing the prey item serves as "exercise", and has shown to decrease the amount of eggbound females. I believe it's in kathy Loves Book. plus on the off days (not a feeding day or the 48hrs after) Shes always out climbing stuff...by out..i mean out of the tub.
well, tuesday, they go back at it.....hopefully i'll get more pics.

Rich you are correct. There's no one way to do anything usually. Everyone must find what they are most comfortable doing. I've been doing this a long time and this is the easiest and most tried and true way for me. I definitely understand if Nanci or anyone else, is not comfortable putting them together for long periods of time. You mentioned this was your first hook ups, so I figured the easiest way was to leave them together. Years ago I used to keep Corns in pairs all the time, and I never had a female get stressed. At least I never knew it? I do agree it probably isn't the best of situations, if one were sick then it would easily pass to the cage mate. Yet this can happen when placing them together to mate also. anywho good luck with the breedings to you and to all this year. May all your plans be successful!

Congrats

Glad they hooked up for you, I would suggest next time you put them together put them into a container with no aspen or nothing in it .The aspen can get stuck to and into places it shouldnt and could cause problems. Its always exciting to have your first breeding and to see the eggs pip.

Congrats and good luck! That is gonna be a mess of grey snakes!

Snakehead said:

Rich you are correct. There's no one way to do anything usually. Everyone must find what they are most comfortable doing. I've been doing this a long time and this is the easiest and most tried and true way for me. I definitely understand if Nanci or anyone else, is not comfortable putting them together for long periods of time. You mentioned this was your first hook ups, so I figured the easiest way was to leave them together. Years ago I used to keep Corns in pairs all the time, and I never had a female get stressed. At least I never knew it? I do agree it probably isn't the best of situations, if one were sick then it would easily pass to the cage mate. Yet this can happen when placing them together to mate also. anywho good luck with the breedings to you and to all this year. May all your plans be successful!

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Thanks So much for the kind words of encouragement!! It feels kinda like driving blindfolded..and you guys are in the passenger seat telling me when to turn....It's an undeniablely "fun" feeling.

wax32 said:

Congrats and good luck! That is gonna be a mess of grey snakes!

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And hopefully a white one

stephen said:

Glad they hooked up for you, I would suggest next time you put them together put them into a container with no aspen or nothing in it .The aspen can get stuck to and into places it shouldnt and could cause problems. Its always exciting to have your first breeding and to see the eggs pip.

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Stephen,

Yes, i know...it was my first rookie mistake..i have already been reprimanded
by..ummm..i think it was Ghost House corns...sorry cant think of the users name..anyway, as i explained to her...i realizedthat after they started going at it...and i think in the pics..you can see less & less aspen in the tub...that was me between pic scooping hand over fist...they didn't seem to mind much.

Just another update:

they are currently at it again. wow...he's really making a loud "Buzzing" sound with his tail against the tub...Do they normally do this while mating?? perhaps he'd like for me to stop watching! LOL ok..well i'm no pervert..so i'll check back in a bit.

He's telling you to leave them alone!

LOL...figured as much...then i'll do just that.

Round 2

well,
heres what the action was like last night...same pair.(Ultramel Charcoal x Phantom Het amel)

This is the reason I would never leave breeding pairs unattended.

Well if the first go round didn't work, here is hoping the second is the charm.

Nanci: Good reason. I will remember to be most careful.

Nanci,

I've opted to not leave them alone overnight or for extended periods....I figured the way these two are going at it...2-3hrs tops is all thats needed. I usually leave the room for no more than 15minutes. Of course alot of things can happen in 15min. but after last nights tail "buzzing" show..i figured they needed some alone time.

smallet said:

Well if the first go round didn't work, here is hoping the second is the charm.

Nanci: Good reason. I will remember to be most careful.

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Again,
Thanks for all the kind words! I'm guessing twice is better just once...we'll see.

"Someone" told me that "Don Soderberg says" if they haven't started mating within 10 minutes, they aren't going to, that day. For the most part, with maybe one exception, I have found this to be true!