Will Garter Snakes Copulate....

[mtolypetsupply]

Even if the female is gravid???? I peeked in on some Florida Blue Eastern action yesterday, and got these pics:

http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq176/mtolypetsupply/Garters/Copulation%2020100613/IMG_7791.jpg
http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq176/mtolypetsupply/Garters/Copulation%2020100613/IMG_7790.jpg
http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq176/mtolypetsupply/Garters/Copulation%2020100613/IMG_7789.jpg
http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq176/mtolypetsupply/Garters/Copulation%2020100613/IMG_7788.jpg
http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq176/mtolypetsupply/Garters/Copulation%2020100613/IMG_7787.jpg
http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq176/mtolypetsupply/Garters/Copulation%2020100613/IMG_7792.jpg

So they were really DOING IT (LOL) on 6/13/10. If I get babies in less time than possible from that breeding, we'll have a definitive answer.

Has anyone else experienced a "couple" breeding when it wasn't necessary???

[kazariel]

look at them ... they are just having some fun ;)

[Hollis_Steed]

that last picture he seems to be saying, "Hey! Shut the door man!!"

[jurgen]

Hi,

I had the same question last year. sometimes before giving birth they copulate. This is absolutely normal and means she's coming very close of giving birth.

Jurgen

[guidofatherof5]

Maybe this time it was just for fun:D
Crazy snakes.

[prattypus]

Maybe the pheremones are kicking up again? Not that I blame them...

[mtolypetsupply]

Thanks for the replies, everyone! I guess it's time to take Dad out of the enclosure! Will post pics of the "blessed event" if I catch it happening, or at least the little scrubs!

:)

[ConcinusMan]

Hi,

I had the same question last year. sometimes before giving birth they copulate. This is absolutely normal and means she's coming very close of giving birth.

Jurgen

I agree. My male concinnus have always been attracted and tried unsuccessfully to breed with the female right before, during, or after she gave birth. Sometimes I observe the same reaction from a male right after the female sheds after having her babies a few weeks earlier.

On a side note, pigs do the same thing. You have to separate the males when females give birth or they will ___ her and the babies to death.

It's probably time to separate the male. Leave the female in her own exclusive enclosure, with plenty of hides both moist and dry, warm and cool. If it were me, I'd get rid of the substrate too. Wax paper or slightly damp paper towels works pretty well so she's not on bare glass or wood. Neonates still in their sacks can get stuck on newspaper or other absorbent substrates and it will suck the moisture right out of the membrane and unable to escape, they could die.

[mtolypetsupply]

Good advice Richard! I'll be making those adjustments for her and the babies asap!

:)

[infernalis]

It's probably time to separate the male. Leave the female in her own exclusive enclosure, with plenty of hides both moist and dry, warm and cool. If it were me, I'd get rid of the substrate too. Wax paper or slightly damp paper towels works pretty well so she's not on bare glass or wood. Neonates still in their sacks can get stuck on newspaper or other absorbent substrates and it will suck the moisture right out of the membrane and unable to escape, they could die.

Thumbs up!

I would not use the wax paper though, just seems as if it would be slicker than glass.

Moist reptile bark is an awesome choice for birthing, the rough edges break membranes easily.

[ConcinusMan]

Learned that the hard way. Had my snakes on newspaper. I didn't lose many, but it seemed to me that those losses could have been prevented. They simply stuck to the paper, which sucked the moisture out of their membranes, they became trapped and died.

Moist reptibark sounds like a good idea as long as you can afford to completely replace it after the birthing.