Female snakes will be ready to mate after their first, post-hibernating shed. Males are usually ready to mate sooner than this. If you are not sure of the sex of your snake, your local snake specialist will most likely sex your snake free of charge. ( For more information on sexing, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions section. When the temperature is right (75-85 degrees F or 25-30 degrees C) and the female releases her "scent", your snakes will begin their mating ritual. You will know your snakes are trying to mate when you see them bouncing over eachother and eventually intertwining. Don't worry, this is all natural behavior. Still intertwined, your snakes will rest and then the transfer of genetic material will take place. Total mating time takes up to 4 hours.
Watch the female now for the next two months. When she becomes very active, crawling around the cage all day she is ready to lay her eggs. You should now set up an egg-laying shed in your snake's cage. It should include soil (peat). Once laid place the eggs in an enclosed breathable container with damp vermiculite or peat and cover them with blotting paper. Do not touch the eggs with your fingers, and keep them in the same way in which you found them (no flipping). The young will hatch after 60-75 days and measure from 8 to 9 1/2 inches (20-24 cm). After shedding their first skins they will begin to eat newborn mice. Over the years we've had one succesful mating where the female laid a clutch of 9 eggs. Unfortunatley all of the eggs dried up and molded due to our inexperience.
For more information on this subject, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions section.