Snuggle Snakes

[Mommy2many]

I just came home to find Jesse (my Florida Blue Eastern) and Stewie (My Eastern Garter) snuggling. After watching for a moment or two, it appears that they are very good friends. lotsa tail twitching going on there. Perhaps we'll have another clutch in the future.

Would this clutch be expected in 90-120 days or would I be expecting it in the spring? I did not brumate Stewie but she may have done enough of it herself with the cooler temps we have had here.

Any advice would be very appreciated.
Thanks!

[drache]

most of my garters mate in fall if given the opportunity - and then again in spring
I've never yet had a march birth, but I do believe they would become gravid at some point after brumation and give birth at some point within the usual parameter after that, even if there was no spring mating
it's all very precise science and the garters always stick to it

[guidofatherof5]

Did they lock-up or was he more interested than her?
If there was a lock-up your 90-120 days is right on if she chooses to fertilize the eggs. I've had plenty of March births on the Ranch.
Best of luck. Keep us posted

[ConcinusMan]

Same here. Fall mating of concinnus always resulted in march or april births, even after light brumating for the winter, fully developed neonates were born in spring. Late march or early april mating (coming out of hibernation) resulted in August births. Only had one fall mating though in 20 years.

Ordinoides couldn't care less. Sometimes a pair would have two matings and two births per year. Spring and fall.

[Mommy2many]

Not sure if they locked up. Looks like they could have yesterday. They were still going at it tonight. Though this time he was on top and "shadowed" her as she moved. As far as I can tell, he is putting forth quite an effort! How long does this go on?

[guidofatherof5]

Not sure if they locked up. Looks like they could have yesterday. They were still going at it tonight. Though this time he was on top and "shadowed" her as she moved. As far as I can tell, he is putting forth quite an effort! How long does this go on?

Until she gives in or he gets exhausted. As long as she's releasing pheromones he'll continue to try. If he does mate, she'll quit asking.

[ConcinusMan]

Agreed. It has gone on for as long as 3 weeks with my concinnus. After the lock, it stopped. Sometimes it stopped anyway after a week or so, without resulting in a brood.

Sometimes I couldn't help myself. I would take the female out, let her crawl across the floor for quite a ways, then put her away in a seperate container. Then I'd let the male out and watch him frantically follow her trail. So entertaining.

[Mommy2many]

That just sounds cruel. (To him) You probably did a world of service for her.

[ConcinusMan]

Lol. Yeah, I know. Even as I was doing it, I was aware of the "cruelty" of it. Didn't stop it from making me laugh though!

On a side note, I was sitting in the shade of some trees along the Columbia River shoreline a few years ago, having a smoke. It was one of the first warm days of the season about 80 degrees. All the sudden, a large concinnus female slithered right up to me and stopped for a moment. She seemed oblivious to my presence. I even tried to "shoo" her along but she ignored me. Then, wouldn't you know it, here comes two males, following her scent. She seemed to me, to be "stringing them along", never stopping long enough to let them have a chance. Talk about cruel!