First time Royal breeder, couple of q's

[vazzza]

Hi, I've been lurking for a little while and am just after some advice on breeding royals.

I've done a lot of research so think i know most things i need to know, well, the key bits anyway.

One question I can't see answered anywhere is: When introducing the male to female, should this be done in the females viv or a seperate 'breeding viv', and should there be hides/husbandry or literally just a water bowl?

Also, my female royal is a bit under weight, she only weights 1000g's. Do you think the intensive feeding period before breeding would bring her up to weight, or should i be patient and wait until next year?

I do have a few more questions but i'll walk before i try to run!

Cheers
Adam

[oakelm]

Originally Posted by vazzza

Hi, I've been lurking for a little while and am just after some advice on breeding royals.

I've done a lot of research so think i know most things i need to know, well, the key bits anyway.

One question I can't see answered anywhere is: When introducing the male to female, should this be done in the females viv or a seperate 'breeding viv', and should there be hides/husbandry or literally just a water bowl?
Doesnt really matter, I personally put the male into the females RUB, im not a viv person myself, so then I can switch him between a few females easily but either way round works. I wouldnt bother with a seperate one just for breeding. In my RUBs I take out the hide and leave just the water bowl, they are on paper too and white paper for breeding for a couple of reasons aspen or similar could potentially get stuck to the males hemipenes when he goes to put them away, ouch. Also you can see evidence of any activity including the female making track marks showing she is ready, etc. But in a full sized viv you may want to leave a bit of decor in but no hides you could even just put some scrunched up paper in so it doesnt look to open and put the male off. Never bred using vivs always used RUBs so maybe someone else can answer that bit for you.

Also, my female royal is a bit under weight, she only weights 1000g's. Do you think the intensive feeding period before breeding would bring her up to weight, or should i be patient and wait until next year?

I would say wait another year, the girls going into a first years breeding cycle are at the lowest of around 1400g right now at this time of year and I expect them to gain a fair a bit more in the next couple of months.

I do have a few more questions but i'll walk before i try to run!

Anymore questions just fire away.

Cheers
Adam

Answers in red

[vazzza]

Cheers for the reply. I use kitchen towel as a substrate anyway so that will not be a problem and have plenty of the plastic plants i can use to keep the viv busy without hides being used.

I thought waiting would be the best idea. Although this isn't a female coming into her first year of breeding. She was used to breed last year (Not by me, i have only just obtained the pair) but she has never put the weight back on (So i'm told anyway, its either that or she was bred underweight). She isn't a big eater and has refused 2 feeds from me since I got her, so am a little worried about how much weight she has lost, especially as the fella i got them off doesn't keep records so I have no idea how long its been since she ate and how much weight she has lost (He couldn't tell me). She looks healthy enough and doesn't have too much loose skin so am not panicking just yet.

Say if she does start eating, I feed her once a week on a small rat (120g's ish) and by December she is weighing a good 1400g's after a shed, would I be able to start breeding then or would it be too late? I have heard you can basically breed any time in the year, as long as you can recreate the winter conditions, is this avoidable, or even possible?

Thanks again!

[vazzza]

BTW Oakelm, just checked out your website, some beautiful Royals you have there!!!

[oakelm]

Originally Posted by vazzza

Cheers for the reply. I use kitchen towel as a substrate anyway so that will not be a problem and have plenty of the plastic plants i can use to keep the viv busy without hides being used.

I thought waiting would be the best idea. Although this isn't a female coming into her first year of breeding. She was used to breed last year (Not by me, i have only just obtained the pair) but she has never put the weight back on (So i'm told anyway, its either that or she was bred underweight). She isn't a big eater and has refused 2 feeds from me since I got her, so am a little worried about how much weight she has lost, especially as the fella i got them off doesn't keep records so I have no idea how long its been since she ate and how much weight she has lost (He couldn't tell me). She looks healthy enough and doesn't have too much loose skin so am not panicking just yet.

Say if she does start eating, I feed her once a week on a small rat (120g's ish) and by December she is weighing a good 1400g's after a shed, would I be able to start breeding then or would it be too late? I have heard you can basically breed any time in the year, as long as you can recreate the winter conditions, is this avoidable, or even possible?

Thanks again!

Hiya
I would say the female to have been bred before and drop down to that weight could have been a little too small to begin with or just have changed hands a few times since breeding and never really got back into eating. Just keep offering her each week and no handling where possible until she has eaten, once she has settles in and takes a first few meals you can assess what the time of year and weight is and take it from there. I would say if she hasnt had a good year of eating then probably not wise to breed her next season as they really need to be in tip top condition to breed without it having a drastic effect on them.

But in answer to the other bit, yes they can in theory be bred at anytime of year it is easier to keep in with the seasons because it is hard to keep a room at the right temp and dark in the summer even with an air con unit. Plus also I actually think the change in atmospheric pressure (just a thoery not hard fact yet) seems to help them along too, which is different at different times of the year. They seem harder to convince that it is the right time of year to breed than colubrids do. But its the same with everything wait and see, and then re-assess if its possible.

[vazzza]

Originally Posted by oakelm

Hiya
or just have changed hands a few times since breeding and never really got back into eating.

You've hit the nail on the head there. The person i got them from (bought a male and a female as a pair of 'proven breeders') only had them 4 months so its likely he got them off the person who bred her underweight, never got her to feed so sold on as she will be a lot of work.

Luckily i'm willing to put in the effort so i will stick by her. I'll get her feeding and play it by ear then, sounds like is the best advice as the main priority with me is always my sankes health!

Thanks again for your help!

[Issa]

Personally I'd focus on getting them feeding and settled in first. Breeding can wait in the grand scheme of things.

[vazzza]

That will be the plan. I'm slightly annoyed as I was sold "A pair of proven breeding royals, ready to breed", and in reality have a male and female royal, period. So much for fast tracking my initiation into breeding royals. Live and learn!

My mate came up with this the other day in a drunken rage, and i'm going to have to live by it: Patience comes to those who wait