Male bit female!

[ssscales]

I got home a few minutes ago and checked on my snakes as I do every night. I noticed something strange on the head of one of my female Dumerils. After a closer look I noticed there were two broken off teeth stuck on her head! I assume the male had bit her! I immediately removed the male from the females cage and pulled the teeth as well as put on some Neosporin.

I don't understand what could have cause this, these two have been together for weeks! They have mated and copulated numerous times! Why would he have bitten her? I also noticed a bit of blood of the Plexiglass. I checked her and him out and did not notice any other wound.

Strange!!

[Ed_r]

Not strange at all. Dums will eat other snakes. i know a few people that have lost their snakes due to breeding. Ive also know people who put another boa in a tub with a Dums for a short time for cage cleaning, and had the other boa (of similar size) consumed.

[BWSmith]

If you fed them recently, one may smell like food and elicit a strike.

[ssscales]

I haven't fed them in almost a month. I actually fed the male a small meal after seperating them. I'm thinking of feeding them all a small meal, they've been breeding almost a moth on and off.

[ssscales]

Well, he did it again!
On 11/22 I separated and fed my Dumeril Breeders as mentioned above after one of my males bit one of my females. At this time they had been breeding on and off for weeks. I gave them a little over a week to digest before reintroduction.

On 12/2, I introduced the males back in with the females. Within the hour courting began and within two hours copulation was witnessed, the male had been on and off her a few times since introduction from 12/2 to 12/4. This afternoon I went home for lunch and again found blood on my cage, I assumed the same male bit her again! I found a small bit of dry blood on the females lip which I cleaned and added Neosporin.

Needless to say I separated them and won't be introducing this particular male to any female again this year.
Either way I think she has already taken, I'm just curious as to why he would attack the females?

[The Big Squeeze]

You better keep them separated...!

[ssscales]

I pulled him out yesterday, they've been together for almost 6 weeks on and off. I guess he had enough!