Breeding not going so well now. Please advise.

Well it's about a month and a half after I started pairing.

For the first month it went very well. I would introduce the male into the female's enclosure (1 male to 3 females), and I would witness a lock within a few hours every time, move him on to the next, etc. He would lock with all three within 3 days, stay locked for about a day. They would stay cuddled together after a pairing, and there would be urates where their tails were, but it wasn't a huge mess. After 2 to 3 days he gets 3 days off. Worked very well.

Then, started a couple weeks ago (last two pairings with each female), this is what happened.

1) He is still pairing fine and normally with female #1.
2) I have introduced him and left him for two days with female #2, and not witnessed any lock. They were resting at opposite ends separately in the tub.
3) With female #3, this is what is worrying me the most. For two times in a row, I did not witness any locks. Not only that, within 10 hours after pairing, I check, and it is both times a big mess. Urates covering the snakes completely so they look "ghostlike". Urates all over the tub, including walls, the entire bottom floor and even on the roof. The first time the water bowl overturned too. I don't even know if I should leave him in there or wash them or what.

Anyone have any idea what is going on as they were all locking properly until two weeks ago.

Keep pairing them. Just because you don't see a lock, doesn't mean that they didn't do it.

But what's with the big mess? I am not so much worried if they locked or not just concerned someone would get hurt.

And should I wash them or not?

Maybe girl three likes it rougher then normal? Not sure otherwise still learning myself but sounds like they aren't making sweet love sounds like they wrestling WWE style

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Originally Posted by hungba

But what's with the big mess? I am not so much worried if they locked or not just concerned someone would get hurt.

And should I wash them or not?

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Sometimes they are messy. I have a few females that poo and pee almost immediately when introducing a male to their tub. He still locks them fine...

2 snakes 1 tub ;)

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

2 snakes 1 tub ;)

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Is that a remake of two girls one cup :( :( that video made me shiver

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Originally Posted by mike41793

2 snakes 1 tub ;)

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lmao

I didnt say it was a remake of any such thing! :D

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Originally Posted by carlson

Maybe girl three likes it rougher then normal? Not sure otherwise still learning myself but sounds like they aren't making sweet love sounds like they wrestling WWE style

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When I actually saw them lock before, they didn't make so much mess. Just a bit.

Making a mess is pretty normal when they are breeding, not sure why they do it, but it's pretty typical. Like others have said, just keep pairing. They may be locking and you aren't seeing it.

Thanks for all your advice. I posted on two forums, and on both forums people are telling me to keep pairing.

I also emailed a well known breeder, and he told me to remove the male immediately!

I guess there is no fixed answer.

I do know they make a mess when they breed, but usually its urates under the tail area where they locked. I have seen him lock with the other females and even this female, but for some reason the last two times with this female the mess was crazy. I mean, it's really like when I opened the tub it was like it was snowing in there (all white).

I'll try to take a picture of the mess tommorow.

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Originally Posted by SlitherinSisters

They may be locking and you aren't seeing it.

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Thanks. I don't know if timing is an issue. Because in the past weeks, when they locked, they locked after a few hours, and STAYED locked for a whole day. I know I can miss a lock and not see it, but the complete mess was within like 10 hours of introducing. So if it say, takes 3 hours before they start to lock, and the mess was already there, say 2 hours before I checked, that means they only locked for 5 hours or so? In the past they always locked up (any female) and stayed locked for at least a day (sometimes more).

They will lock for different periods of time. I had a male that would lock one girl for 48 hours or more and then the next week only lock an hour or 2. It really does vary.

The other thing that could be happening is they are locking, unlocking, then locking again before you noticed. Thus giving the impression they stayed locked the whole time...