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Tips on Sexing and Breeding Cobras
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by Toxica on June 18, 2008
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I currently have a 6 feet 0.1 Black Pak cobra (Naja naja) and an unsexed Suphan cobra (Naja kaouthia) that’s a solid 5 feet and that looks like a male through visually examining him. I would love to make an attempt at breeding these two snakes if I can get some helpful hints on doing so. I've only bred Western diamondback rattlers in the past and this will be a new experience for me, and I have five questions before I can get started.
1. Although I believe the Suphan cobra is a male by the look of it, I haven't probed it to be certain. I do have a probing set, and do have a little experience using these, along with proper safely gear (tube restraints, etc. My question is how far should the probe go in to determine the sex in regards to cobras? Do they go in about the same length as rattlers?
2. Secondly, I know cobras often times enjoy eating other snakes, including other cobras. Are there any tips to help decrease the odds of one eating the other during introduction of the cobras in a single enclosure?
3. In the past for the C. atrox, I would give the snakes a three month resting period with decreased lighting and temperature and without food. Then I would place the male in a smaller enclosure that would then be placed inside of a larger enclosure with the female for a period of about a week so they could slowly get use to each other. I then fed them good, then introduced the male directly in with the female and gently sprayed them down bi-daily with warmed water. Would this also be suffice for introducing the two Najas, or is there a better way?
4. With the Western diamondbacks I used a 4 foot long,
3 foot wide, and 2.5 foot deep enclosure. Is something like this suffice for cobras, or do they need more room when trying to breed them, since they do occasionally have cannibalistic tendencies?
5. Does anyone know what the offspring of a Black Pak X with a Suphan would look like? Is there a name for them?
THANK YOU ALL! It's hard finding good, up to date information on breeding cobras that goes in to any useful detail.
Thanks again!
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RE: Tips on Sexing and Breeding Cobras
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by Chance on June 18, 2008
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Interesting questions. I've only bred Najas once, but it involved at least one of the species you're asking about - black Pakistans.
To put it simply, I didn't give my snakes any particular conditions to try to encourage them to breed. In late summer I put them together and kept them well fed to try to discourage any possible cannibalism. I never had a problem, but then again, they were the same species. I can imagine a problem with trying to breed two different species that can both be ophiophagic is getting them over the desire to feed and in the mindset to breed. For this reason, I might be best to put them through a cycling period just to be sure. For cobras, I wouldn't go much further than dropping the temps by 5 or so degrees Fahrenheit and decreasing the light period. You could also try simulating a bit of a wet season. Toward the end of this cycle, begin feeding them heavily, let them get in a few good meals, and cautiously introduce them. Don't chunk the male in with the female or vice versa and walk away or you may end up with a fat female and a missing male. I'd sit there and watch them for at least an hour or two, then check on them every 10 or 15 min for another few hours after that. Most likely, if neither snake tries to nail the other (in the eating way) within the first few minutes, you shouldn't have a problem. In fact, what you'll probably see is the male going all jerky on the female, similar to how your atrox probably behaved.
If they mate, expect eggs within 60 or 70 days, then babies in another 55-60 days at 85F.
As for what you'll call them - that depends on who you ask. Some will call them hybrids, some will call them mutts. You're welcome to come up with some cutesy combo name (like carpalls - carpet x ball, or walls - woma x ball) or even a completely new "common" name (like bateaters). Maybe suphakistans...
Whatever you do, please advertise the babies honestly. You may get some that look like some crazy mutation of an existing species, and it might be tempting to just advertise it as such as make a small fortune on it.
Oh, I almost forgot. Most likely these two species are close enough genetically that you won't have many issues producing hybrids. However, don't be surprised if you get a lot of infertile eggs. Most hybrid clutches don't have very good fecundity.
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RE: Tips on Sexing and Breeding Cobras
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by Toxica on June 18, 2008
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Thanks for the comments! I posted this same set of questions in four forums and you are the only one who has responded so far. This will be my first shot at breeding cobras and I'm hoping I can get a batch of some unique looking baby Najas; however, I assure you if I get lucky and all is well, they'll be offered for sale at a reasonable price. Thanks again for your advice!
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