mating corn snakes

Question
I have two corn snakes that I think are male and female.  I know one is female
because shortly after getting her from the pet shop she had a clutch of eggs.  
I was told the other was a male when my friend gave him to me.  Both snakes
are almost the same size.  I would like to mate them, but have no idea how to
do it, and what do I do with the eggs once they come?  The last clutch of eggs
came while I was on vacation and didn't hatch.   Please let me know what you
think.    thanks for your time.

Answer
Here is a guide on breeding. Please note that I am not a snake breeder and not an expert in this area.


Before Brumation
Step1
Place your male and female snakes in separate cages before brumation.
Step2
Feed your corn snakes twice as much as they normally eat starting at the beginning of September to make sure they have enough nourishment to last them through the winter.
Step3
Stop feeding your corn snakes for three to four weeks before the brumation period begins. It's essential that their stomachs be completely empty when they go into brumation. Keep the temperature at a normal level during this time.
Step4
Provide the snakes with fresh clean water every day.
Step5
Cool the temperature down slowly to 61 degrees F over a two-week time span after you are certain their stomachs are completely empty.
Step6
Reduce the amount of light the corn snakes are exposed to during this time. By the end of the second week, it should almost be dark.
Step7
Give your corn snakes fresh water two times a week, but be very careful that you don't disturb them.
After Brumation
Step1
Warm your corn snakes slowly over a two-week period until they reach their normal body temperature of 85 degrees F, usually by early March.
Step2
Begin feeding your snakes once their temperature has been back to normal for about a week.
Step3
Place the male corn snake in with the female corn snake once the female has had her first shed after brumation.
Step4
Leave the two snakes together in the female's cage overnight to make sure that mating takes place.
Step5
Put the male snake back into his own cage and let them both rest for a few days, then put the male back into the female's cage for another day. Repeat this process five times if necessary.
Caring for the Eggs
Step1
Know that the female sheds her skin 10 to 14 days before she lays her eggs.
Step2
Place a box inside the female's cage that 's large enough to hold two snakes the size of the female. Fill the box with damp sphagnum moss or paper towels.
Step3
Cut a hole into the box so that she can lay her eggs inside it.
Step4
Make a pencil mark on the top of each egg shell to make sure that you keep them right side up before you transfer them to an incubator.
Step5
Transfer the eggs from the nesting box into the incubator a few hours after the female has laid them. Place the eggs on a damp layer of sphagnum moss and then cover them with another layer of moss.
Step6
Keep the incubator temperature at 80 degrees F. The corn snake eggs should hatch and about 10 weeks.