Breeding advice B caudalis

[Nasicornis]

Have a quick question with regards to breeding of B caudalis.

I have a nice chubby B caudalis female and have very recently acquired a male for her.

This is the male



and this is the female I intend on breeding with.



Could I try and introduce them now or is it a bit early for them? Is there any specific cycling involved for this species or any other pre-intorductory preperations that have to be made? Also, I have heard of other people loosing caudalis because the one decided to eat the other.

[Quintin]

Hi Nasicornis,

Perhaps this cool caresheet from froot and other members will help.

http://www.sareptiles.co.za/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4149

Q

[armata]

Cannabilsm can be a problem, and fang penetration can be an ingredient of courtship.
So, needs watching, and I would remove the male once he has performed.

[Bushviper]

I remember that in Polokwane they used to budget 3 males to each female. The big female was worse than a praying mantis and would devour the males after they had mated. If they were slow they got devoured before the mating could even take place.

[Nasicornis]

Oh now that sounds very inspirational. Cr@p, I'll rather give it a go over the weekend when I can keep a close eye on them then. Seeing as I don't have three males lying around to spare.

[Rob]

You also have 2 different localities there. Its up to you whether or not you want to breed them but personally i wouldnt.

[dendroaspis]

I wouldn't either.
Even if you sit and watch them, it just takes a strike to the head to end your male's career.

[armata]

I agree with Rob and dendroaspsis, if they are from different areas then I would advise against it.

[Nasicornis]

If they do turn out to be from different localities, but they do breed. What are the implications as to why this should not be done? If both are the exact same species (B caudalis), what implications are there?

I doubt that any of the babies will ever end up back in the wild.

[drummer]

pure locality for one thing....i like to know what locality my animals are from. Also who knows if they will stay the same species...?!

[armata]

We already know how variable the puff adder is, even between DeHoop and Oudtshoorn for example. Better to err on the side caution methinks.

[Pythonodipsas]

I just wouldn't breed them together because I'm a purist. Your male looks like a Namaqua caudalis and your female looks like a Limpopo specimen.

I still think they should do DNA investigations on caudalis. Across the range, they can be so different in colour and to a small degree, morphology.

[drummer]

yes...go and look at the horns very closely on the 2 different ones...see a difference?

[Rob]

Personally, if you bred them and offered me a pair of babies for free id decline. For all the reasons mentioned above.

[drummer]

for free? hell i'll take em..then all i need are baby namaqua chams to eat them...