Re: Do your schrencki mate without brumation?

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Posted by Terry on May 01, 2002 at 16:48:01:

In Reply to: Do your schrencki mate without brumation? posted by Pierson on May 01, 2002 at 10:07:06:

: I've housed my pair together for 5 years and never have they mated, but I blamed this on my inability to brumate them. I was under the impression that schrecki needed a long, cold winter in order to breed successfully. How do you breed yours? I am deciding whether or not to sell them based on my ability to breed them in the future. Thanks.

Pierson,

In short, my answer is no, based on my experience, but I have always brumated mine.

Here's some background info. Amur ratsnakes come from a far northerly part of the continent. They have a pretty large range, so there's some variability. I would say they are active at the most six months in the wild. Based on this then, they would hibernate up to six months, at least, in the wild.

My adult snakes have always brumated at least four months, and as much as six. I haven't had any trouble mating them, but they are very private about it. They are cooled from 45* to about 60*F over the winter. I put the desired female with the set male and leave them until near egg-laying season. No problems.

Many Eurasian ratsnakes are fall breeders too. Your snakes could very easily be breeding in both the fall and spring, but with no results because if the male is not cooled his sperm probably isn't viable. Also, Russians are very slow growers when being hibernated. My snakes usually are four years old before producing and sometimes five.

I love the Amurs/Russians. I would never give 'em up. If I were you and really wanted to breed them, I'd find a way to cool at least the male. Even 60*F for a month might be good enough to do the trick, or it'd be worth trying. One suggestion is using a fridge, but that is a little risky and I've never done it with a snake. Good luck whatever you try.

TC/Ratsnake Haven

Follow Ups:

Re: Do your schrencki mate without brumation? Pierson 05/01/02 (3)
- Re: Do your schrencki mate without brumation? Jim Sargent 05/03/02 (2)
  - Re: Do your schrencki mate without brumation? Pierson 05/03/02 (1)
    - Re: Do your schrencki mate without brumation? Jim Sargent 05/04/02 (0)

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: : I've housed my pair together for 5 years and never have they mated, but I blamed this on my inability to brumate them. I was under the impression that schrecki needed a long, cold winter in order to breed successfully. How do you breed yours? I am deciding whether or not to sell them based on my ability to breed them in the future. Thanks. : : Pierson, : In short, my answer is no, based on my experience, but I have always brumated mine. : Here's some background info. Amur ratsnakes come from a far northerly part of the continent. They have a pretty large range, so there's some variability. I would say they are active at the most six months in the wild. Based on this then, they would hibernate up to six months, at least, in the wild. : My adult snakes have always brumated at least four months, and as much as six. I haven't had any trouble mating them, but they are very private about it. They are cooled from 45* to about 60*F over the winter. I put the desired female with the set male and leave them until near egg-laying season. No problems. : Many Eurasian ratsnakes are fall breeders too. Your snakes could very easily be breeding in both the fall and spring, but with no results because if the male is not cooled his sperm probably isn't viable. Also, Russians are very slow growers when being hibernated. My snakes usually are four years old before producing and sometimes five. : I love the Amurs/Russians. I would never give 'em up. If I were you and really wanted to breed them, I'd find a way to cool at least the male. Even 60*F for a month might be good enough to do the trick, or it'd be worth trying. One suggestion is using a fridge, but that is a little risky and I've never done it with a snake. Good luck whatever you try. : TC/Ratsnake Haven

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