Emerald Tree Boa Organization - Corallus caninus

Emerald Tree Boa - Breeding

Ask seven different breeders to share how they have achieved success and you will very likely get seven different answers. Each successful breeder develops and refines his/her methodology by way of trial and error thereby expanding the knowledge base. What follows is a conglomeration of commonly used techniques, all of which have stood the test of time. You are encouraged to digest the information and put to use that which you believe makes sense. The following is offered by way of shared information and is not meant to represent "a definitive" method.

Cooling : Lowering NTL to simulated seasonal change.
Beginning on or about September 1st initiate the lowering of NTL (night-time low) temperatures by 1°F at 4 days intervals until a NTL temperature of 70°F has been reached. A DTH (daytime high) to NTL variation of between 10 and 12°F is recommended during the peak of this breeding cycle.

Misting : Intended to simulate the onset of the rainy season.
By way of generalization doubling the customary misting frequency is considered adequate. For those who routinely mist 2-3 times per day, doubling the frequency and cutting each misting period in half is recommended.
"Crepuscularity works"! For those who never mist, misting at dawn and dusk should suffice. To be effective, misting should last throughout the entire breeding season. Beginning at the start of the cooling cycle and returning to the usual routine by the completion of the warming cycle.

Mating Cycles : Frequency and duration.
Once the cooling cycle has reached it's lowest point (temperatures lower than a 70°F NTL are NOT recommended) begin introducing the primary male; that being the male you would most like to sire a particular project. Allow the pair to remain together for three days and nights. At the end of the three day cycle, remove the primary male and either introduce a secondary male, or allow the pair to remain apart for three days. If a secondary male is used, it should be allowed to remain with the female for a full three day cycle and then removed allowing the female a three days respite before beginning the entire process again.

Feeding during breeding season: Expectations and frequency.
On average fifty percent of all males used as breeders will fast for either the duration of the breeding season or some part there of. The use of seventy two hour exposure cycles is a tool that has proven highly effective at minimizing fasting.
Females will feed ravenously during the breeding season slowing or stopping only with the approach of ovulation. During the ovulatory process females will remain off feed and show no interest in either males or food until after the post ovulatory shed; generally three to four weeks after ovulation. Once females have completed the post ovulatory shed they may or may not resume a hunting posture during evening hours. In either case it is recommended that such females be offered food on a regular basis. Approximately twenty percent of gravid females will refuse to feed throughout the entire gestation period. Such animals tend to require much longer to regain their pre-ovulatory conditioning after parturition (birthing). A majority females will accept some meals during gestation, often feeding only after some sort of slight provocation, a tap or two is generally sufficient. A smaller percentage of females will continue to hunt and feed normally up until or around post ovulatory shed day 110. During the final weeks of gestation virtually all females shut down, refusing to feed and unable to perch comfortably. Neither behavior will resume until after parturition.

Reluctant Males : Inspirational tips and techniques.
A small percentage of males will never breed. For these, display animal status is as much as one can expect. However, approximately twenty to thirty percent of males will breed only when presented with the proper stimuli. It is for these animals that the processes of cooling and misting are initiated in hopes they will be adequate to illicit the breeding response. For most, when combined with the availability of a female, these measure prove sufficient. However, for those that refuse to succumb there is yet another "trigger" that can be applied; "competition".
Although most emeralds generally appear placid and inoffensive in captivity, males in the wild are in fact highly territorial. This instinctual behavior can be used to advantage on those males that remain unresponsive to cooling, misting and opportunity alone. By removing an unresponsive male from a females enclosure and replacing him with another male (either with or without the female present) the newly introduced male will instinctively investigate the unfamiliar enclosure. Allowing this "inspirational male" to remain in the females cage overnight, presents ample opportunity for it to liberally spread its scent throughout the enclosure. This advantage inherent to the use of 2.1 breeding trios, can in this manner be used to effect when using a secondary male is not desirable. All that remains is to remove the "inspirational male" and re-introduce the originally reluctant primary breeder. This technique is a safe and highly effective supplement to cycling and misting.

Post Ovulation Day 110 : Preparing for parturition.
With the approach of parturition, it is necessary to insure an enclosure is birthing safe and escape proof. Remove any large water bowls from the cage floor and replace them with either elevated drinking cups or very shallow pans with egg-crate grid inserts and water levels no higher than the insert in order to prevent newly born neonates from drowning. Some keepers prefer to remove females to temporary tub like enclosures for birthing. These should be simple enclosures containing two perches at different levels about 12" apart and with only damp newspaper as substrate. Daily misting is sufficient to provide humidity and drinking water during these final weeks and will further uncomplicated the process. Normal heat, humidity and ventilation (an often overlooked requirement) must be maintained as in any enclosure.

Parturition : Birthing - Day 130-150.
On average birthing will occur 130 to 150 days after the post ovulatory shed. Females become noticeably restless and uncomfortable several days in advance of giving birth. Approximately 24-72 hours before birthing, females will have what appears to be a small bowel movement. Within the evacuated matter should be contained a fecal plug (a granular mixture of calcified urates and feces dissimilar to the normal urates passed). This is usually an indication that parturition is immanent.
The actual birthing process generally takes place over a period of several hours dependant upon the size of the litter and the experience of the female. Neonates will often emerge tail first and completely unencumbered, however it is not unusual for an animal to be born either still enveloped within the oval membrane or dragging a yoke sack at the end of its umbilicus. In the case of babies still enveloped within the oval membrane, it will be necessary to extricate them from the egg sack. All babies should have the vernix (a sticky viscous fluid covering the newborns) removed. This can be accomplished by holding the neonates in a damp towel and allowing them to crawl through it several times.
Babies born with externalized yoke sacks will require more rigorous attention. Using sewing thread, tie off the umbilicus about Ľ to ˝ inch from the body to prevent blood loss, then snip the umbilicus about ˝ inch below the tie. Disinfect the remaining attached tissue with 2% hydrogen peroxide solution and clean off the vernix in the above prescribed manner. Less than 50% of babies born with externalized yokes will survive without close scrutiny and/or medical intervention. The condition of these animals must be closely monitored, and the externalized tissue disinfected regularly.
Newborns should be housed in translucent shoe box sized containers containing only a perch or two, a paper towel substrate and a large, very shallow water dish. For the first few weeks it is important to gently mist neonates two to three times daily to ensure proper hydration during the period leading up to their first shed, usually 7-18 days after birth.