繁殖哥伦比亚红尾蚺(一)

    CYCLING AND THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

    繁殖前的驯化

    Female boa constrictors have a wide “window of opportunity”when they are available for breeding. Most breeders ”cycle” their Colombian boa constrictors in much the same way that Burmese pythons are cycled. Typically this involves a one month period of darkness (usually November or Dccember) and exposure to lower-than normal temperatures down to 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit.A warming period follows this cooling cycle when courtship and breeding commence. However,I believe this cooling period to be unnecessary with Colombian boas and that it may have negative effects,closing the”windows of opportunity” for some females and unnecessarily disturbing it for others.In my opinion,Colombian boas which are cooled and reproduce,do so in spite of this cooling,not because of it.

    My boa constrictors are maintained thoughout the year at 82 ºF and the females always have a warmer area available in their enclosures. At certain times of the year, boa constrictors refuse to eat or will do so reluctantly. Such behavior is often the first sign that the breeding season is here. Usually September is the first month that this fasting occurs. I stop feeding females boa constrictors at the end of September with their last two meals two weeks apart and consisting of prey 1/3 to 1/4 the size of what I normally feed them. The females are not fed again until after ovulation or subsequent to all breeding attempts.The males are fed their meal in mid-August.This period lasts between 2 and 5 months under normal conditions.The reduction of food intake,and in the Northern Hemisphere the shorter day length,may be all that is necessary to “cycle”boa constrictors for breeding.

    对于其他饲养品种利用1-2个低温进行 “冬化”的过程,对于哥伦比亚红尾蟒来说是不必要的。

    我的红尾蟒长期饲养温度是28摄氏度,而雌性的繁殖箱内还会多提供一个热源。在某个特定的事情,红尾蟒开始减少食量或拒食,这将是繁殖季节到来的第一个标志,通常9月开始。9月最后两周,每周只喂平常的1/3-1/4分量的食物。直到排卵后,才开始对雌性红尾蟒进行喂食。雄性红尾蟒的喂食量也作控制。一般需要持续2-5个月的食物控制。这个控制食量以及自然光照的缩短,对于红尾蟒的繁殖是很必要的。（原文部分内容省略）

    PAIRING UP YOUR BOAS

    配对蟒蛇

    A pair of boas need to be compatibly sized. Ideally, the male should not be larger than the female. They of course should be sexually mature, robust healthy animals. As a rule, lean males make more ambitious breeders than fat ones. Smaller males do not, as a general rule, have the energy to breed more than one female because this process takes 6-12 weeks of hard work per female. In my experience , a small sexually mature male is more likely to be an effective breeder than a larger more powerful male. I recommend having at least one male available per female.

    一对红尾蟒蟒尺寸应该适合。理论上,雄性的尺寸应该小于雌性。当然,他们还必须是性成熟和健壮的成体。通常精壮的雄性比肥胖的更具有交配能力,精壮的雄性有足够的精子能与超过一条的雌性成功交配。根据我的经验,身材精壮一点的雄性红尾蟒比身材肥长凶猛的雄性红尾蟒更容易交配成功。不过我还是建议,一条雄性红尾蟒只与一条雌性交配以提高受孕率。