Corn Snake breeding question

[Reticu-Lady]

Ok, this is going to sound really stupid, but I would rather ask and be safe, not sorry. Ok, I introduced Powder (female snow 4'4&quot to L.C. (male anery 32&quot. I am not sure if Powder was picking on him or trying to 'talk' him into something, but he is acting terrified of her. Running away as quicly as possible, hiding in the groove at the top of the cage, etc. What Powder is doing is putting her head and neck on top of him and squishing him to the ground. As soon as she does that he leaves at lightening speed. Could it be the size difference, although I sort of doubt that, I don't think they are able to 'measure' as we do.
I have even starting doubting that Powder is female even though I have been told she is by 3 different people, one of whom I actually trust lol. I just noticed that it appears Powder is considering shedding again. Her eyes are clear but she has that 'pasty' look she gets.
I would appreciate any comments/suggestions, please. I am so far very disappointed. Maybe I should give them more time together, but he seems stressed when they are together and I am concerned about the size difference. Thank you in advance. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]

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	Anerythristic A recessive genetic mutation in which the animal is void of red pigment.

[Boaguy]

I am not a expert on corns or anything but it sounds to me like powder is mounting
L.C lol.. u might have there sexes wrong.. befor u put two snakes together liek that make sure u bring them to a herpetoligist or reptile vet to get probbed first [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]
[addsig]

[Reticu-Lady]

I know for sure L.C. is male, he was sexed at Hisba's place and since she needed females not males, and I wanted a breeding age male for Powder. Powder has been to 2 snake breeders (of boids, though), and Jesse aka SnakePool checked her out thouroghly including probing. I trust Jesse's opinion. I may, just for grins and giggles, take her to the herp vet here. He was great with Fluffy and Muffin (two rescue burms).
[addsig]

[hisba]

hmm... ok well I know L.C. is a male.. (he's been checked and even gave a little "white
present" when being checked lol)... and when a female's shed was palced in with him he
got very excited looking/searching for the "female"..
it could be that Powder is a male too... it sounds like male fighting behaviour.
I placed two of my males together (harvest and the snow I had) and they lined up their
bodies, holding the heads cocked sideways and above the ground, the snow twitched his
body all over the other (showing his dominance what I was told..) and it sounds like that is
kind of what powder is doing. (holding head above the other.. that is the dominance.. since
harvest and the snow were the same size they "fought" a bit, but since L.C. is so much
smaller, he knows he wouldn't win a fight and runs.. that's my best guess...)

Ok, so what to do from here.. seperate them for now. Get Powder, take a good look at
the tail, can you do me a favor and measure the tail length from tip to vent? Also, how
wide is the tail? (is it basically the same width after the vent as it is before the vent?)
If you can, get Powder probed... also another "test" would be to take a fresh shed
from Powder (either one a few days old or wait if s/he's going into another shed cycle)
and put the shed skin in with L.C. and watch how he reacts to it. Got my fingers crossed for ya...
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[Reticu-Lady]

Ok, I measured Powder's tail. BTW, Powder is starting to get pissy with me today. lol
Anyway,
vent to tail tip: 8 inches.
width of snake right above vent 1/2"
width of snake right below vent: 7/16"

Hisba, does that help at all?
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[hisba]

hmm well the tail length is pretty long... which leads me to think male..
just remember, sexing by tail length, etc is not always correct, but sometimes it
helps. I wrote down the tail lengths of all my corns and I remember there was a decent
difference between male and female, so I'll check my records at home this weekend.
It's really frustrating isn't it? Since so many people checked her out and said Powder was
a female.. I am hesitant to say it's a male but does kind of act like it.
Try the shed thing if you can... does Powder "chase" L.C. around the tank when he runs?
If not, could just be she is a female and is just showing her dominance.. because from my
understanding usually males will chase another male around while females won't.
Did you place L.C. in Powder's tank? maybe she was feeling defensive in her territory..
try placing them together in a "new" place.. even the bathtub or big rubbermaid together
and see if the reactions are the same. (what a pain eh?)
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[Reticu-Lady]

When I had them in Powder's cage, she (he?) [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] barely noticed L.C. I put them in a tub so I could supervise them downstairs with me and that's where the squishing bahavior started. Since L.C. looked miserable, I took him back out and let him go back to his 'home.' I am hoping Powder is just being pissy because of the oncoming shed. I will save the shed for L.C. maybe that won't be as intimidating. Build up his confidence a little (sheesh, ego-stroking a snake [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] ) Thank God at least I know that my baby corns are both female (breeder checked). I still have an anery girl and a snow girl, they are just tiny right now. Guess I might be waiting after all. Isn't life strange? [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] I will give L.C. a few days and then I should have a shed for him to 'play' with.
*sigh*
Good thing I love 'em.
[addsig]

	Anerythristic A recessive genetic mutation in which the animal is void of red pigment.