Rhino Rat Snake Breeding Journal 2020

In 2020, the breeding of Rhino Rat Snakes was documented. Over four pairings in May, locks were visually confirmed twice, with the female avoiding breeding attempts in the last two pairings. 10 fertile eggs were laid in June and hatched after 65 days of incubation. The breeding process was detailed, culminating in the successful hatching…

Rhino Rat Snake Breeding Journal 2020

The year 2020 wasn’t all bad… I bred Rhino Rat Snakes for the first time. 😉

This is an account of my experience breeding rhino rat snakes including the notes, pictures and video I took during the breeding process.

Quick Info

I have one pair of rhino rat snakes which I house individually throughout the year. They were close to three years old at the beginning of their first breeding. I decided to introduce and separate them rather than keep them paired for the duration of the breeding process. No hibernation period was induced.

Summary

The rhino rat snakes where paired four times during the month of May. Locks were visually confirmed during the first two pairings. During the last two pairings no locks were observed.

As far as I had observed during the last two pairings, the female tried hard to avoid the male’s breeding attempts. Locks may have happened but they were not visually confirmed.

Ovulation was not witnessed.

Eggs were laid near the end of June.

Quick Numbers

The pairings took place during a 20 day period from May 6 until May 26.

The female went into her pre-lay shed on May 28 and shed her skin 14 days later on June 11.

A clutch of 10 fertile eggs was laid 12 days later on June 23.

Eggs were incubated at an average of 26C (79F) for 65 days before the first hatchling pipped.

Rhino Rat Snake Breeding Journal 2020

May 6

Paired male and female. Locked up within the hour. Confirmed lock. Cuddled up with each other until the afternoon of May 7.

Separated pair on May 8.

May 12

Paired male and female. Confirmed lock. Were seen cuddling together and resting apart for the next day.

Separated on May 14.

May 21

Placed male into females enclosure. Lots breeding interest shown by male. Female didn’t seem too into it. Male has proven himself to be an aggressive breeder.

Separated them from each other later that day to prevent the female from being beat up too much.

May 25

Placed male into females enclosure. Again not much interest from the female.

At this point I suspected either ovulation occurred or that she just didn’t take to the earlier breeding attempts.

Separated on May 26.

May 28

Female in shed (pre-lay shed)

June 11

Shed Skin. Female looks thick and gravid. Palpated and felt at least 9 eggs.

June 16

Female is looking very uncomfortable. Good sign for me but feel bad for her.

Kinda got a little scared that this was symptoms of RI but then remembered that she’s gravid…

June 23

Female laid 10 gorgeous eggs in her lay box.

Eggs were removed from female and placed in an egg box on damp vermiculite.

The egg box was placed on water bottles in an insulated box without heat.

Mainly an attempt to prevent drastic temperature swings. I am incubating these at room temperature anywhere from 77 – 80+ degrees during June – Aug.

Just a little fancy-ass chart I made to say that I incubated the clutch at an average of 26 C or 79 F for a total of 65 days before the first sign of action.

Aug 19

First sign of egg dimpling after 57 days.