Breeding/Egg Production & Care FAQ

Since I've got some experience under my belt I was going to try and tackle this FAQ sometime this week.

Any input from you guys as far as what should be covered?

Not sure exactly what you're already planning on putting in, but these things might be helpful to cover:

pros and cons of brumation for breeding
Size, age and condition of female before breeding (with maybe a link to a thread on cohabiting)
health risks to the animal
how to tell if your female is gravid
how to make an egg laying container
incubation procedure
double clutching, risks and how to keep a double clutching female in good health
post-natal care of hatchlings

When and how to introduce the pair.
Courtship behavior and actual mating/things to look for (yellow "spooge", blood, etc.)
Time frame from mating to egg laying to hatching to second clutch, etc.
When, if and how to help a hatchling out of the egg.
When, how and how long to brumate and steps/procedures to change the normal cycle (ie - brumating in August).

I think that should keep you busy for awhile!

What to do in case you get an eggbound or prolapsed female. I know the answer is obvious, but you know how some people can be........

Also, how many hatchlings to expect, with some nod towards the cost and time requirements.

(I see this as important because I think many people say "Oh cool! Let's breed our snakes!" without thinking about the responsibilities involved)

Good idea for sure!!

I'll just add about incubation maybe a section on different incubation mediums: perilite, vermiculite, moss, etc.

And I think a significant section should be devoted to the required care (time, cost, etc) on dealing with hatclings and finding them homes. I 100% agree that people sometimes breed without thinking about any of the ramifications.

Maybe check and see if it's ok with Kathy to post a link to her popping and probing videos for sexing. As a way to sex adults before making breeding plans, and a way to sex the hatchlings. Also, maybe a recommendation that they should see it done in person and be taught how to do it by an experienced breeder/vet/herper and use the videos as a refresher when hatching season comes around.

Something about how breeding Corns is not generally a profit-making exercise? Nobody gets rich from it, although with enough snakes (a warehouse-full) and man-hours (20 hours a day!) you might - one day - make a living.

Where's that post of Rich Z's, that describes the trials and tribulations of being a professional breeder? A link to that might be very educational for anyone seeking to make a quick buck.

Here it is:
Life as a professional Corn Snake breeder

Something along the lines of a "breeding timeline" would be AWESOME. This is my first time breeding corns (currently on day 13 after her pre-lay shed) and it would have been really really nice to have a timeline of like....what to look for when, etc.

Something like :

Approximately 45 days after breeding, the female will enter a shed cycle.
Approximately 10-15 days after her pre-lay shed, the female will lay eggs.

etc etc....

There were a few times during the process so far where I would think......wait....should she be doing that now? Shoudn't she be shedding now? etc.