The very beginning...

[Crawly's Mom]

So I just picked up Bonnie and Clyde today. The girl I bought them from told me they locked for the first time yesterday. Now my question is... where do I go from here? They aren't due to feed till next Saturday, so I will still attempt to feed them then. From what I have read people give their males 3-4 days off after a successful lock and then reintroduce them to the female. Would I do that with snakes that are in a new environment or will they be too stressed? Also... I know people sometimes drop temps. Should I just not turn on their heaters? Its ambient 78-81 in my house right now. So much to know. >,<

[Kinra]

I would give them some time to settle in and let them eat then start pairing them again.

Typically when people drop the temps they do it at night. I currently have my rack setup to drop 10 degress at night.

Good luck!

[CoolioTiffany]

I would wait a month or so to start pairing again. Even though they have both been paired I would let them settle into their new home during that time. I waited a couple to a few months before I paired my newest Ball since she was a new arrival. But since you're pairing the same two snakes coming from the same place who were paired together before, I'm sure waiting a month would be long enough before pairing again.

Once you do pair them up again, I would go for the 3 days in 3 out schedule. I may differ from other breeders, but I still stick to my once-a-week feeding schedule during the season. Usually feeding day is the day before I'm supposed to pair so I will feed my snakes that day then pair them up the next day. I DO give my snakes 24 hours or more to digest before I pair though.

And for cooling, that is truly up to you. Some people find it to work well, others don't even drop temps at all and still find success in breeding. It is your decision to do so and what you would rather prefer.

[Crawly's Mom]

Okay, I will wait until next month to begin pairing them again. That should give not only them time to acclimate but me as well lol. There is still a lot I need to learn about breeding, this deal for the pair was just too amazing not to pick them up.

[ImBooBy]

You should quarantine your animals after getting them. Thats why there is the waiting period. remember to not to handle too much. After you get them to feed, should be ok with breeding.
As far as feeding during breeding goes, I pair them for 3 days, then I feed them after removing them. 3 days later, I pair them again. This allows 2 days for digesting before breeding. Then 3 days of breeding so that actually gives them 6 days between feedings. Females that are breeding will eat alot more. Males that will eat a few meals between breedings tend to do more times with more females.

[snakesRkewl]

I'd breed them in quarantine, give them a break now and reintroduce them in 3-4 days.
I have fed males and bred them the same day and they do fine, they aren't babies anymore and have no problems breeding the day they eat.

With females I feed them as much as they'll eat(weanlings to smalls) during feed up time(NOW).
After feed up time, typically January here, they slow back down and go to once a week feedings again.

You being a first time breeder I'd not drop the temps at all, they don't NEED the temps to drop to breed.

[Crawly's Mom]

They are seperate from my other two snakes right now and in seperate tubs. I need to pick up some rats for them, they were being fed every other week. I think I may try once a week as I saw some people saying they upped the feeding during breeding season, so long as they are willing to eat. I will probably try feeding next Friday as that is my normal snake feeding day for the others, then if they both eat, I will reintroduce them on Monday to one another and see what happens.