Lock?

[Slitherous]

A month after obtaining these two BP's, (I had a normal adult male, and a 2012 baby female already), I seem to have my first lock with the 2007 Normal female, and 2008 Cinnamon male!

Hard to see well, but they've been in this position for hours, (don't wanna try and move them to see better), and I can just see the Cinnamon male's tail inverted under the normal females tail. Since they've been in this position so long I am assuming there is a lock going on under there. Please check out the pics and see if you agree. This is the first breeding of any species I've accomplished in over 20 years, (like riding a bike I guess), and my first with BP's so I'm pleased. Considering that these snakes went through a major wintertime move a month ago, and are just getting settled is a good omen for things to come, (I hope). I have a young Spider female who will get her chance with this Cinny next winter. Due to the move, and my allowing them to adjust to their new environs, I thought it was getting a little late in the season to pair them up, but since they seemed to be adjusting so well I decided what the heck...give it a shot! I hadn't noticed any outright signs of ovulation from the female, but she had just eaten and shed, so I figured I'd just put them together and see if anything happened......looks like something did!!
The first photo is what I saw first thing this morning when I pulled the tub, they later moved enough for me to get a look at their tails and a few photos. In the first pic the female has her head down at the other end of the tub, while the male was wrapped up as you see him. The second pic is a closeup of the only viewing angle I have of their tails, but considering they've been that way for hours I vote "lock"!!! Photo 3 was all I could see for hours, but photo 2 was late this afternoon. I guess I'll just have to wait and see!

[Mike41793]

Looks like a lock to me in that 2nd pic.

[I-KandyReptiles]

Looks like a lock, but you should have QTd them...

[Slitherous]

Looks like a lock to me in that 2nd pic.

Yup, I agree. They're still locked up at this moment, (12hrs so far...at least), looks like I'll have to get an incubator going soon.....cool!

S

[Kaorte]

Looks like a lock, but you should have QTd them...

I think both the snakes came into QT at the same time, so its not affecting the established snakes.

Looks like a lock to me

[Slitherous]

Looks like a lock, but you should have QTd them...

I did, for a month. They've eaten twice each, and show no sign of any health issues at all, (I know, famous last words). These two were also already kept together prior to my getting them, so I figured it was (relatively) safe. That's why I paired these two, as opposed to using the male I already had, (who, with my 2012 female is still isolated from the newer group). I separated them after the move to acclimate them, but I figure since they had lived together recently anyway, no harm would result. I'm very careful too about cross-contamination, always wash/sanitize my hands between snakes, and sanitize everything else with F10. I was worried the season was getting away from me, so under the circumstances this was my only option til next fall. I know BP's are not as seasonal as other species, (corns, kings, hognose, etc), but I went with what I was used to doing, (albeit 20 yrs ago). Seems to have worked.

S

[Slitherous]

Reintroduced the Cinny male and immediately got lock #2, plus, since the first lock the female has been hugging her waterbowl and hanging in the cool side of her tub; good signs for possible ovulation soon....yay!

S

[Slitherous]

I haven't reintroduced the male as he is blue at the moment, so I thought I'd give him a well deserved rest after two solid locks. Now though, after hanging on the cool side and wrapping herself around the water bowl for a couple of weeks, the female seems to be heat-seeking, sitting right on top of the 95 degree "hot spot" 24/7; if what I've read is correct, those are possible signs of impending ovulation. I haven't noticed any bulges, ridge-back or tail-suck, (or the "glow"), but I'm keeping a close eye on her as I'm hoping she's getting ready to go. I think I'll take her off of paper and put her on aspen shavings just in case, (better to make a nest with)!

S

[BHReptiles]

I haven't reintroduced the male as he is blue at the moment, so I thought I'd give him a well deserved rest after two solid locks. Now though, after hanging on the cool side and wrapping herself around the water bowl for a couple of weeks, the female seems to be heat-seeking, sitting right on top of the 95 degree "hot spot" 24/7; if what I've read is correct, those are possible signs of impending ovulation. I haven't noticed any bulges, ridge-back or tail-suck, (or the "glow"), but I'm keeping a close eye on her as I'm hoping she's getting ready to go. I think I'll take her off of paper and put her on aspen shavings just in case, (better to make a nest with)!

S

This is my first season breeding myself...but it's pretty far fetched that only after two locks your female is close to ovulation. It can take months for follicles to grow large enough before the female can ovulate. I just started pairing one of my girls around the same time (maybe a week sooner) and she's not showing any building behavior or have any large enough follicles that I can feel. Now, the only reason I can think that she may be close to an ovy is if they were pairing with each other when they lived together (I think I read that they were housed together). Also, from what I've read, they tend to heat-seek after ovulation, not before.

Like I said before, this is my first breeding season so it's possible I'm just babbling off nonsense. But based on my limited expertise, I'd say she's still got a ways to go. Have you palpated her to feel follicles? One of my girls has follicles the size of marbles. I was watching snakebytes this week and Brian from BHB said they will get to be about the size of a chicken egg before she ovulates. Best of luck to you.

[Slitherous]

This is my first season breeding myself...but it's pretty far fetched that only after two locks your female is close to ovulation. It can take months for follicles to grow large enough before the female can ovulate. I just started pairing one of my girls around the same time (maybe a week sooner) and she's not showing any building behavior or have any large enough follicles that I can feel. Now, the only reason I can think that she may be close to an ovy is if they were pairing with each other when they lived together (I think I read that they were housed together). Also, from what I've read, they tend to heat-seek after ovulation, not before.

Like I said before, this is my first breeding season so it's possible I'm just babbling off nonsense. But based on my limited expertise, I'd say she's still got a ways to go. Have you palpated her to feel follicles? One of my girls has follicles the size of marbles. I was watching snakebytes this week and Brian from BHB said they will get to be about the size of a chicken egg before she ovulates. Best of luck to you.

This is my first pairing in a while yes, but not my first ever. I just recently obtained these two animals, but I know that they had been housed together for a period of time this year before I got them. It's very likely they locked at that time, but no one noticed or paid attention, (they were not checked for days at a time apparently, though they put them together purposely to breed). That's kind of how I got them, their former owner had too much going on to do much with them, and wanted them to go to someone knowledgeable; and someone who had the time to purposely breed them. They hadn't kept any records on feeding, sheds, or anything else, so considering the circumstances, and what I learned about their previous handling I think I lucked out timing-wise. I immediately started cards on both animals, and have noticed several tell-tale signs from her in the past month, (as well as a couple of locks), so I'm making educated speculations, (or perhaps wishful hopings?). It's been a long time since my last clutch, but I remember the anticipation, and closely watching a particular female waiting for those eggs to drop....it's still exciting, even after all these years! Basically I think this guy nailed her long before they got here, and I'm hoping her subtle behaviors are proof of that, (ie; I got a hunch!!!).
I'm also aware that some females will lock, (sometimes frequently), show signs of ovulation yet never ever "go", but I'm feeling lucky with this girl! Right now the only indicators I have is her behavior, but my spidey sense tells me..............

S