Breeding Garter Snakes

When is has been decided to maintain an animal in captivity, it is necessary to offer it  a series of conditions so that it can adapt to this conditions with the smallest amount of stress possible. 

These conditions of maintenance derive from prior observation of their conduct and of the animal physiological needs.  Once this is achieved it is very probable the moment has arrived in which the animals are physiologically prepared for reproduction without problems. Snakes do hibernate during the cold period, from mid September to April. This recess period is necessary to stimulate the sperm production on the male and to induce ovulation on the female.

During the summer, the couple begins the courtship which marks an antecedent even if Coupling is seldom noticed. Then, once the cold period starts, each animal is place in individual terrariums. Once the hibernation period ends the female would lay her eggs fertilized the previous summer.

Courtship by the male starts by it following her constantly, recognizing her smell and robbing its chin against the female neck. His behavior grows rapidly and by then the male is using his and her whole buddy for stimulation. This intense activity period lasts about 10 seconds with a two minutes rest, at the beginning; then the periods intensify o two minutes of high courtship and resting periods of 15 minutes. As a result of this courtship, the animals will end up united together by their sexual ends. The male possesses a couple of hemi-penises, introducing one of these into the female. Inside her the hemi-penis is enlarged securing the copulation. The union lasts about 16 hours. The sperm is the storage by the female which will utilize it to fecund the eggs after the cols season has passed. After copulation the snakes are taking to their terrarium separately to be fed and to recover. The courtship and subsequent paring produce a great lost of energy especially on the male which shows greater activity

Before placing the animals in the terrarium they should be giving an internal anti parasite (febendazole*) treatment.  This is administered by oral way, with a mixture proportion of 50 mg/Kg . 40 mg are to be administered to the female administered and 18 mg to the male. Animals originating from the wild often are full of parasites, mainly nematodes.  So it is necessary to carry out a correct ridding of parasites especially if it is prior to copulation.