Jungle corns....how to get them to breed without eating each other?

[beth wallbank]

Hi there.....I am not at all for hybrid animals, but I recently saw the most amazing 1/2 corn x 1/2 cali king. The markings on this animal even as an adult were absolutely amazing, and made me want one terribly. I have both adult kings and corns, and with it being time for breeding, I tried to introduce my smaller cali king to my normal corn female after she was fully aroused by the corn male first. But upon placing the male king in with the female whom was twitching in excitement, the king decided to bite the female corn and do a death roll on her. I was horrified, and got them apart immediately. I was devastated, and felt horrible for doing this to the corn, and can't figure out why he would do this. Both of the animals were with the opposite sex of their own kind, and I was told to do a silent switch at the last minute. I followed the advise given to me to the tee, and this still happened. I know that in their natural environments, that the corn is naturally prey to the kingsnake, but I have been told that when fully aroused and if introduced at the very last moment then they should just breed, and not fight.
Can anyone shed some light on how this is done safely, and what I may have done wrong? I don't want any of my animals to get hurt or worse because of my wanting a jungle. It's just not worth it if they are going to hurt each other.
Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Or if any of you may perhaps have jungle corns expected this season can contact me?
Thanks in advance,....Beth

[marisa]

Hi!

I have no experience breeding hybrids, and no expert here. But I beleive normally with Kings and Corns, a male corn is used with a female king. I think the reasoning behind this is because male kings can become more "violent" when breeding than corns, so you use a female king who's job it is to lay still *L* a male corn is more gentle.

Mind you I might be wrong, and I know its far from impossible to do it the way you tried, but I do believe a female king is normally used.

Marisa

[Katt]

It is generally recommended to use a female king, because king eggs are bigger and you may damage the female corn, but this is not always so. Also it is recommended because male corns are gentler in terms of biting and perhaps more aggressive breeders.

As it is, when your male king is actively tail searching the female king, put the female corn in, then gently switch the female king's tail with the female corn's tail. (Make sure the female corn has been made receptive by putting her in with a male corn beforehand.) Your methodology may not be wrong, however and you will still not be successfull, also, you will need to get them to breed a few times to insure fertility, as hybrid breedings do no always take. Your methodology may not be wrong, and the snakes may not be ready.

Our albino cali-king totally chewed up a female cali-king. He may not be in breeding mode and you may need a female king to stimulate him into breeding mode. Not all kings or corns need the opposite sex same species to stimulate them, but it helps.

Last year I tried to breed small king male to bigger female corn, but the male king did attack the female. This year, the same small king has not attacked anyone, but he was more receptive to breeding, after he shed, and only after we put some female kings in with him.

As for jungle corns, we're hoping to produce some again this year, and we do know of someone else producing some in this area. The same guy who produced Linda's.

[gonesnakee]

I pretty much agree with all that's been stated. I too would reccomend using a big male corn to female CK because of the aggressiveness of the CK males during breeding. Don't trust the CK female much though, I own both a JC & a CK female that have "whacked" their mates before (prior to my care) when they were together. I'll be producing (if all goes well) JC's (reg's, hets & albinos) from an Albino male JC to 100% het JC females breedings. I actually just sold 2 JC female "holdbacks" the other day & released a 100% het pair around X-mas. So you just missed some. Keep in touch & you'll be able to have a look when you come to Cowtown.
Mark I. - GONE SNAKEE!

P.S. Just because they start copulating does'nt mean that they still won't eat each other. My JC's were orginally from Corn to CK breedings & the one female corn was getting "done" & being eaten at the same time. My buddy saved her & she successfully reproduced, but she almost got whacked doing so. M.I.

[gonesnakee]

Forgot to mention also (the obvious) make sure they have eaten a big meal prior to the attempts & I find that sometimes throwing in recent female sheds with the male for a couple days before might help get him in the mood some before any exposure to the females. Mark I.

[beth wallbank]

Thanks for your responses......and Mark, I look forward to the fall TARAS show. See you there. Save one of the jungle babies for me.

[Vanan]

Another method which was failed to be mentioned is scenting the female. A fresh shed does wonders with passing on a corn scent onto a female caliking. Other methods which have been used are rubbing the cloaca of the corn onto the female caliking. This results in a direct transfer of scent from the glands. Keep in mind that if one of the snakes is dirty or had "rolled" in poop, it'll be a good idea to wash the snake which is to be scented.

Another thing to note, the nicer looking jungles (the ones with reds) tend to come from using a female corn. This is the more riskier way as Katt and Mark have mentioned.

Good luck!