Captive breeding, egg incubation and rearing of the red-tailed ratsnake Gonyosoma oxycephala
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Published source details
Radovanovic A. (2011) Captive breeding, egg incubation and rearing of the red-tailed ratsnake Gonyosoma oxycephala. The Herpetological Bulletin, 116, 27-30.
Published source details Radovanovic A. (2011) Captive breeding, egg incubation and rearing of the red-tailed ratsnake Gonyosoma oxycephala. The Herpetological Bulletin, 116, 27-30.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Breed reptiles in captivity: Snakes – Colubrids Action Link |
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Breed reptiles in captivity: Snakes – Colubrids
A study in 2007–2009 in a captive setting in Birmingham, UK (Radovanovic 2011) reported that a pair of red-tailed ratsnakes Gonyosoma oxycephala bred successfully during one of two years. In 2007–2008, a female produced four infertile eggs. In 2008–2009, the same female produced a clutch of four eggs, none of which hatched successfully (embryos died during development), and a clutch of four eggs, three of which hatched successfully. All three hatchlings survived for at least a month. In 2007, a pair of ratsnakes were acquired and housed in individual enclosures and only introduced to each other for mating. Ambient temperatures were 25–32°C during the day and 18–20°C at night. Eggs were removed and placed in a plastic container, partially buried in vermiculite (2:1 mix with water) and covered in damp sphagnum moss Sphagnum sp. and incubated at 30°C. The container was opened every two days.
(Summarised by: William Morgan)
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