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Boomslang
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by jpjoubert on January 25, 2007
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Anybody have experience with a breeding pair of Boomslangs? I have a few questions. Actually would appreciate any info. from Boomslang keepers.
Cheers, jp.
Email me at jean_pierrejoubert@msn.com
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RE: Boomslang
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by BobH on January 25, 2007
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Hi Jp- I only had one breeding opportunity, but it was successful. I put male and female together in January and typical chin rubs and chasing took place pretty quickly. I left them together for about a week and separated them. Eggs were laid in the spring (I don't have my notes with me). The eggs were somewhat adherrant (some stuck together) and were really leathery compared to most colubrid eggs. They were also not white but tan colored. They were incubate half buried in vermiculite and and most hatched successfully. Now the problem begins- mine were difficult to feed. I tried pinkies, geckos, frogs and fish. I had a deformed eyelash baby that one did eat but the boomer died the next day. I eventually got some to eat pinkies while in a small tube but most were force fed until they found new homes. I understand some are still kicking!! Good luck with them.
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RE: Boomslang
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by Chance on January 26, 2007
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Like Bob, I too had some success in getting eggs and subsequent babies, but very little success in getting those babies to do well once they hatched. In fact, I got a few of Bob's babies to try to work with, but they unfortunately all perished one by one.
My breeding "efforts" (the snakes did all the work, I just sat back and watched) were very similar to Bob's. My snakes began courtship rituals in around January, though they had been together since the previous July or August. Copulation was witnessed a few times. Eggs were laid in July, and as Bob noted, they were an off white color. This initially worried me as I was afraid they were duds, but after a week or so of incubation, veins began to appear. An interesting thing I noticed at this time was that the eggs were laid relatively underdeveloped compared to most colubrids. Prior to that, I'd had eastern hognoses, black rats, and prairie kings lay eggs for me, and each time the eggs were laid with very visible venation. The boom's eggs all looked infertile until, like I said, a week or so of incubation. Another interesting thing I noted was that the time period between copulation and ovoposition was very length, being January to July. The eggs themselves took longer to incubate than most colubrids. Mine hatched after 76 days at 30C on moistened perlite. Four hatched and none wanted to eat voluntarily despite the several prey items I offered. I began assist feeding - which is quite perilous even with baby booms! - and they started dying, presumably from stress. Finally, it got down to one remaining and it began feeding on its own. By that time I was so sick of dealing with them that I, regrettably, sold him.
Boomslangs are fascinating reptiles to be sure, and are wholly unlike any other snake I've ever kept. But, breeding is by no means a walk in the part...or rather the breeding part isn't bad, it's just getting the babies to eat and live that's bad. They're amazing snakes though and, despite their extremely nasty venom, they can be quite docile, captivating specimens. If you have any questions about them, don't hesitate to e-mail me via my profile.
-Chance
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