First time breeder. Tell me if I'm doing this correctly,,,,;)

ReticMan123 · 09-03-13, 10:08 PM

Ok so here's the deal. My cousin who got me ino boas in the first place has 2 year old 5ft male suriname. He has a 7.5" 4 year old female. She weighs about 20 pounds I believe. Anyway she gets a 3 pound rabbit every 3 weeks. Since July he's giving it to her every 2 weeks to fatten up. And it defiantly worked lol. Anyway let me see if I have this correct. There both on superset cages with 80 ambient and a heat Matt that's around a 93 hot spot on 24/7. So here's the steps I have learned.

1. Starting in October over a 2 week period and all food is defecated out. Lower day time temps to mid 80s by use of a heat lamp on a tomes and go from 14 hours of light to 12/12. Then at night drop to low 70s by turning everything off. Eventuall the female and male should have low 70s at night and low 80/
At day with 10 hours light over 2-3 weeks.

2. Don't offer food unless they take it and make it small food items. Mid December 6 weeks of cooling. Place the male with female. Of coppulation happens. Leave him for a
Week. Then reintroduce him every week for a few days at a time. If it doesn't happen remove and try again in a week. Anyway keep introducing the male week on week off

3. Then after introducing the male several times until February. Start invreasing the temps back to normal and begin trying to feed again. Also still introduce the male every other week for a month after temps warm up unless he has no interest.

4. Now is everything above correct? What I don't get is when do I know when they mated and I can remove te male for good? Also when does this ovulation bulge take place as well as post shed and ect. Does it happen durin the cool period? And if info see the ovulation bump is it time to remove the male for good? Thanks for anyone's help in advance we are really excited to give this a shot. Of its not too annoying and any of you can post a detailed guide to nreeding. Please let me know. Thank you

Mike

Ddub · 09-03-13, 10:34 PM

I would wait at least a year on that female. If it were me I'd wait two years but I'm patient. They generally mature at age 5-6 for females. With bcc it is important to have size and mature muscle mass but even more important is age. You will have a much higher chance for success if you wait. Same with males. 1.5-2 years has been done but 3 years is much better and again increases your chances of success

Jendee · 09-04-13, 05:18 AM

what Ddub said. I also have great patience and wait, my 2009s wont even be going this year. Patience pays off.
and step #1 its really not so complicated. I start dropping room temps around October, I don't do a night and day drop but I do think my house naturally night drops. I live in a particularly old house lol I only drop room temps I do not change the hot spots at all. risking RIs isn't worth it. I start pairing in December I do feed throughout, males general last longer when given breaks to eat.
misting, daily misting does help. Competition, or smells/skins of other animals help to get things going.
first your female will get squeeshy looking and flat, those are follicles growing. the male will take breaks, doesn't mean he is finished. an ovulation will be big, noticeable. You want to look for a swelling that is really tall ^ versus fat. after ovulation you want to leave your male in there for at least a week or 2 maybe until you see a shed. I think the biggest mistake is males being pulled to soon. when he is done he will spend his day trying to stay away and she will be hugged on the heat

Ddub · 09-04-13, 06:43 PM

Meant to add as far as reading is concerned, Vin Russo's book The Complete Boa Constrictor and this from Gus Rentfro's website:
Rio Bravo Reptiles: Boa Care
These two together should be able to tell you just about everything you need to know. Vin's book is an essential tool that should be in every boa keepers library. Also, at some point in breeding you're going to have to rely a bit on your intuition and less on rigid formulas. Not all boas follow the book of breeding rules and a boa that does this year may not next time. Close observation is key.