Trying to Breed Corns

[dannyc]

These are 3 year old new breeders. I took them out of brumation 15 of February. Male first shed at 30 days female at 33. I put them together and have been several times a week since.

The male did a second shed about a week ago and the female 2 days ago.

She is doing all the things the car sheet said, pretty much on schedule but she doesn't look like she's gavid. She has been real restless the last couple of weeks except just before shed but is active again, running all over enclosure. This is supposed to be normal behavior prior to laying eggs.

I put her back in with the male this morning and while handling her examined her and felt her lower body but she doesn't seem gravid to me.

This is my first time breeding so am I missing something or are they just not breeding.

[Joe]

I would advise you not to palpate your snake if its all new to you, colubrids can be a bit sneaky sometimes, if it was her pre egglay shed you will definately have your answers soon, best of luck with bot aquiring eggs and hatching them, enjoy!

[dannyc]

I don't even know what you mean by palpate. When I said I examined her I mean I looked and felt her for swelling, bulging and any signs that she is in fact gravid.

She is normally not that active and stays in her hide except occasionally or if she's hungry. She is out all the time and not eating. That is what the care sheet said would happen and to give her a nest box.

I would have thought she would show some bulge or swelling in lower body if she is that close to egg laying.

Oooops I just went to fix the nest box with my vermiculite and when I opened the bag it was finer than I expected. Is this the right stuff or are there different types of vermiculite. I was thinking it was larger and kind of flaky.

[LdyPayne]

Palpate means gently feeling along the body, usually for the purpose of feeling something deep under the skin (ie such as eggs). Sounds like you just did a visual inspection.

I understand how you feel as I am in the same boat as you. First time breeding corns, had the shed about a month ago, a restless corn snake, no real sign of being gravid....though I thought she looked a little more girthy in her lower third but that seems to have gone now...maybe she just ovulated...she kind of looked like I just fed her a normal sized rodent for her, but I didn't.

Sounds like you bought the fine vermiculite. It should be good though. Vermiculite can come in a more coarse form as well as the size you bought. Far as I know, there is little to no difference between the two grades of vermiculite. Only one I can think of, is the smaller grains may loose moisture faster than the larger..due to greater surface area...but to counteract that, just put fewer or no holes in the deli dish or container you put the eggs in. Or keep a closer eye on moisture levels/humidity in the incubator if you plan to not use a lid at all. (for the egg dish, not the incubator itself).

[gocmando19328]

im new to breeding corns too... i sthere a certain weight or age they have to be to breed??... i know ball pythons have to be at least 1000 grams... so im told.

[gonesnakee]

Ah you were told wrong on BPs 1000 grams is no where near close enough for a female. Females should be in the 2000 g range for breeding anyone that even considered breeding a female at 1000 g is either clueless or just plain old scum. Males as long as they are producing sperm plugs are good at smaller sizes but females should be close to 2000 g & 3 years of age. Corns should be 2-3 yo for females, around 3 ft + & at least 300-400 g 300g being way too small IMHO but lots of others are content to breed small teenage girls for whatever reasons (mostly $) Mark