What to know about snake reproduction?

I'm going to be posting a step-by-step guide to breeding and waiting for a clutch, but I'll post this first so that anyone not familiar with reptile reproduction knows that many mistakes you may make while breeding snakes can be detrimental to their health. <br><br>* Male snakes have two sex organs/hemipenes, and the organs are usually bigger than the female snakes <br><br>* Male snakes "dance" with female snakes by doing little wiggly movements with their bodies and vibrating their tail. Males will do this with other males, but will continue for longer with female snakes. <br><br>* When a male snake is dropped with a female snake, he will often follow the female snake by smelling her pheromones, and while doing this, he may accidentally mistake the females tail for her genitalia and attempt to mate with the tail instead of the genitalia. This is because of the pheromone trail left by the female snake, and the way she smells when she's ovulating. <br><br>* The organs are very close to the anal vent, be careful not to damage the snakes cloaca when attempting to remove eggs or the female snake can bleed to death<br><br>* When removing eggs, you should carefully grab the snake behind the vent, and carefully massage the eggs out of the snake, being sure not to puncture any eggs or the snakes body <br><br>* Snakes will often stop eating during their breeding cycle, and during this time it's essential to keep an eye on their weight and overall health, as they can become weak and hideous to the point of death if left unfed for too long. <br><br>* Both male and female snakes will refuse food during certain times of the breeding process. <br><br>* Snakes will breed in any season, but they will breed more often in the breeding season. There are very few species of snakes that only breed during certain times of the year. But breeding season is usually when snakes are more likely to breed. <br><br>* Snakes that live in cold climates will not breed when the weather is cold, so snakes in colder climates tend to have a shorter breeding season. <br><br>* Snakes don't lay eggs for the same reason mammals do, it's purely for reproduction. In some instances snakes may lay eggs due to ovulation, and it's a very stressful sign for a female snake. <br><br>* Some species of snakes will only breed in the water, like cobras and taipans. <br><br>* Snakes can hold sperm, and the only way to know for sure that the egg clutch was fertilized by the snake you used is genetic testing. <br><br>* There is no proven way to sex snakes before they reach sexual maturity. Before then it's pure guess work. <br><br>* Snakes shed their skin in one piece as it usually grows with their body. Something to keep in mind because snakes that are under stress or not getting enough light will stop growing, and their skin will look dull. <br><br>* Snakes will stop growing once they reach sexual maturity. Snakes will not continue growing, and they will not grow larger than their parent snakes, so getting snakes from a reputable breeder can ensure the snake is healthy and will not be prone to health issues.