breeding while gravid?

[dw662002]

just a quick question. if a corn is gravid with eggs and already bred will she breed again? i ask because i paired 1 of my females up with a male on 1/11/11. i seen signs of a possible lock up and she hast ate since 1/15/11. i offer her meals weekly but she seems not interested. like i said i was unsure of the lock up so i put them back together yesterday and visually seen a lockup. now she has not shed in 2011 but when i put a lay box in her tub 2 weeks ago she doesnt seem to leave it much? i was just curious what some of you experts my make of this? thank you

 

[Susan]

Most likely, she didn't lock up on the 11th, and even if she did, she may not have ovulated yet. Females can retain sperm for a long time, using it when necessary in case they don't come across a male at the proper time. She may just be using the lay box as a nice moist hide. She may be refusing meals as she is going blue, ready to shed. Females (and males) can sometimes show atypical behavior during breeding season and you just have to accept that. Wait for her to shed, offer her food then, and also reintroduce the male when she's digested the meal (if she eats), just to cover your bases. Did you brumate her? If not, that can also throw off all the timing from what you might expect. Been there myself.

 

[dw662002]

no i did not brumate her and fed her all through winter. the first time i think they locked up on 1/11 was not visual but there was a yellowish fluid on the paper. then yesterday there was a visual. once seperated there was the same yellowish fluid as bofore.

 

[Nanci]

I would continue putting her together with the male, three days apart, at least twice more. I have had snakes go in their lay boxes when they weren't ready to lay just because it was new and different and they liked it.