Corallus caninus Nederland - website dedicated to the Emerald Tree Boa of South America

Thirdly, specimens selected for breeding must display activity when minor changes are made in their captive envionment, i.e. temperature drops, higher humidity. This is a good indication that they will react to mating triggers and the emulation of climatic or environment changes.

Stimulating pairings and copulations
The following sequence of events in the captive environment will generally induce pairings.

1. Male(s) and female should be housed separately at least 3-6 months before breeding attempts are made and cycling begins.
2. The female must be well fed but not obese. Females need reserves to get them safely through the 6-7 month period of gestation and gravidity and for them to remain in good health. This will also ensure healthy offspring.
3. In both the male and female confinements night temperatures may be gradually decreased to 18-20 degrees during the months of October through to January and February. Normal daytime temperatures are maintained in this period, but humidity must also gradually increase (by increased spraying or misting) as the nightime temperatures drop.
4. The male(s) will gradually go off feed in this introductory period and increased activity will be observed. This is a signal that the males are ready to be introduced to the female.
5. Allow the female to feed as long as she feels the need to feed and takes feed readily. Introduce a male to the female in the early morning as the daytime temperature slowly rises. This should be followed by a spraying session to increase humidity as the day progresses.
6. Pairings generally take place the day after introduction to the female and mating behaviour is first observed as 'courtship'. This should be done in the month of December after temperatures have reached their lowest. Tail-wrapping and copulation generally occurs shortly after if the female is receptive and is often observed in the very early morning before daylight. Maintain the same temperature and humidity settings (temperature decrease and rise in humidity). Leave the male wth the female for 3-5 days and note courtship, tail-wraps and copulations.

Reports of successful matings and gravidity in specific subspecies of Corallus include:

Groves, John D. 1978. Observations on the reproduction of the emerald tree boa, Corallus caninus. Herpetological Review 9(3): 100-102.
Güney, Okan. 1993. Captive Breeding of the Emerald Tree Boa. ASRA Journal: 60-67.
Güney, Okan. 1995. Captive Care and Breeding of the Emerald Tree Boa, Corallus caninus. The Vivarium 7(3): 18- 23.
Mortimer, Gereint. 1997. Captive care and propagation of the emerald tree boa, Corallus caninus. Reptilian Magazine 5(4): 35-36.
Van Riel, K., Litteratura Serpentium Jaargang 4. Kweekresulten met Corallus caninus

The following text is a description of the regime required to breed this species in captivity. It by no means presumes a 100% success rate. It is based on literature sources and personal experiences of breeders who have published their results.

First and foremost comes the health and well-being the captive specimens used for breeding. If the snakes are feeling comfortable in their captive environment and are in good health, breeding attempts will have a much higher success rate. The conditions must be right and this may take a few years to accomplish, so patience is required. Specimens should not be overfed in order to reach an acceptable size and weight for mating. This can have adverse effects and is not good for the long-term health of the snakes.

Secondly, the specimens selected for pairing must be compatible and sexually mature (4-5 years of age, although weight says more than age - the female must be at least 1500 g, well fed but not obese; males may be smaller in size and weigh less).