Boa's [Questions on breeding]

Boa's [Questions on breeding]

Postby Corncrazy » Sun May 25, 2008 7:57 pm

Hey guys.

Just a few questions?

1. what symptoms do pregnant boa's usually show?
2. when breeding boa's, what do you think is better, having 2 males to one female, or 1 male to 2 females? (I have tried finding this out on the net and each place has different opinions)
3. Boa's usually breed now from March, but when is the breeding season over?
4. Lastly what temps do you keep your boa's at when you wanting to breed?

Thanks alot ;)
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Postby Bushviper » Sun May 25, 2008 8:23 pm

I take it you are referring to Boa constrictor imperator or Emperor boas.

Pregnant or gravid boas do not always show the signs of being gravid and many of the classic signs like swollen midsection and lack of feeding carries on for many months and no babies are produced. Others will hardly show and then drop babies and surprise you.

The best results are achieved by using multiple males. The more males you use the less likelihood you have for infertile eggs (slugs) being produced. Slugs are more dangerous because they can stick together and cause a blockage so you want to avoid that.

Boas can breed in almost any month of the year. They normally mate in the cooler months with a reduced light cycle but this it can also take place at any decent opportunity.

Boas should be kept at decent temperatures all year around. Being tropical species the light cycle and slight drop in humidity is usually enough to trigger mating. If you drop the night temperature by 2 or 3 degrees then you need to increase the day time temperature by the same 2 or 3 degrees. In "winter" the snakes will move to sunny area and bask longer than what they would in "summer". That means that the day time temperatures will be higher during the "cold" period.

Thus by giving the snakes a greater fluctuation in temperatures between day and night will often trigger ovulation and mating in these specific boas.
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Postby Corncrazy » Sun May 25, 2008 8:50 pm

Ok thanks BV, that helps alot.

My female today looks very swollen by her mid section, could this be ovulation or what? The previous person i bought her from, said they had her with a male and she could be gravid, but she ate a smallish rat three days ago, so i doubt she can be pregnant then. When i noticed her so swollen today, im not sure to believe if she is gravid or she is ovulating? Should i try putting my male in there with her and see what happens, or what would you recommend?
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Postby Bushviper » Mon May 26, 2008 10:54 am

Yip when it looks like they have swallowed a ball despite just eating a rat then it is time to get a virile male in with her.
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Postby Corncrazy » Mon May 26, 2008 11:41 am

Ok thanks. So which was is it best wit boas putting the male to the fem or other way around? I have two males so should i put them both in or just one? Should i also put them together when the temps are higher or lower? Night or day? Or does it not really make a difference?
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Postby Bushviper » Mon May 26, 2008 12:01 pm

It does not really matter when you do it. Some prefer putting the female in with the male while others do it the other way around. Just one male at a time is fine. You can rotate them every two or three days.
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Re: Boa's [Questions on breeding]

Postby Corncrazy » Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:26 pm

Hello everyone.

Sorry been so quiet been busy with work and studies. Well i was just about to give up on breeding my boa's this season. On sunday i walked into my room and saw my male lying on top of my female, and i then noticed his spurs were tickling her. I was quiet shocked and excited, i then went back afew hours later and saw there tails were locked in together doing the naughty, ever since them i have caught them at it alot. Should i just leave them to it or should i seperate her from him for a day or 2 then introduce them again? How many days should i expect the babies to come about 90-120 (i have read on the net and every site has different opinions) How many weeks will she shed before giving birth?

Thanks alot
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Re: Boa's [Questions on breeding]

Postby Bushbaby » Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:13 am

Leave him with her till they seem to have had enough of it (i.e. they show no interest in each other). Then remove him for a week. Put him back and see what happens. If they still show no interest, then take him out and assume she may be gravid.

She will shed after ovulation (POS) and from the date of her shedding, it should be about 60 days till she has her mid term shed. In total from POS it should take 105 - 120 days. It could be less, and it can be more, so be prepared.

You will also notice she will be in the blue for a longer period of time than usual (about 2 weeks, instead of 1 week).

Good luck and keep us posted!
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Re: Boa's [Questions on breeding]

Postby Corncrazy » Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:39 am

Hey guys.

Didnt want to start a new topic, so i just returned to my old one.

My female boa is 100% gravid she has not eaten, is really miserable, is not very active and is really swollen from her mid section downwards, she shed after her ovulation on the 24th of Aug, but last night she has once again shed. So i wanted to ask, what does this mean now? Is she close to giving birth or is she in the middles of her pregnancy? When can i expect her to drop babies? When they going to give birth, should i put any special substrate down? When should i take the water bowl out as im worried she gives birth in the water and the babies drown?

Thanks alot
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Re: Boa's [Questions on breeding]

Postby Bushbaby » Tue Nov 18, 2008 10:25 am

Has she shed since the 24th Aug or was this the first time?

Edit:

It should be her mid term shed and she should give birth in January only. I could be mistaken.
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Re: Boa's [Questions on breeding]

Postby Corncrazy » Tue Nov 18, 2008 10:34 am

She shed on the 24 Aug after her ovulation, then hasn't shed in ages until last night? Between then 24 Aug Shed and the recent shed it is about 90 days between the two.
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Re: Boa's [Questions on breeding]

Postby Bushbaby » Tue Nov 18, 2008 10:40 am

Yeah, it's about 85 days. Keep an eye on her. I would say give her about a month then. From the shed after Ovulation, it is usually 105 - 120 days, although some have been known to give birth as early as 90 days after POS.
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Re: Boa's [Questions on breeding]

Postby Corncrazy » Tue Nov 18, 2008 10:47 am

Shew ok so i should be ready all times now. Is there any special substrate i must put down ect?
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Re: Boa's [Questions on breeding]

Postby Mitton » Tue Nov 18, 2008 10:51 am

Is this only for Red Tail Boas or the same for all Boas, even Dumerils?
My female looks gravid as well but not as big as I would have thought she should be, she shed 17.9.2008 and again 8.11.2008. So would the shed on 17.9.2008 have been the POS and then it can be 105 - 120 days from then? She still eats very well.
I never saw them mating, so not sure when it happened.
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Re: Boa's [Questions on breeding]

Postby Bushbaby » Tue Nov 18, 2008 11:21 am

As far as I know it only applies to regular Columbian (Bci) Boas. Would be interesting to find out though.
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