Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

COE · I'm new here... Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

Some thoughts on cooling and other environmental factors, and their effects on breeding.
Cooling may not be necessary but it does simulate the natural temperature drops at night in west Africa, where temps do drop to the low 70s on a regular basis during the natural breeding season. (check weather conditions on the net in Ghana, Togo, Benin etc) As long as your snakes are allowed to get nice and warm during the day and your night drop isn't too long, there is really very little risk of a healthy snake developing a serious RI. Temperature drops should (in my opinion) reflect the drops they experience naturally in both temperature and duration. Being equatorial, ball pythons experience a 12/12 day/night cycle all year round (give or take) and light cycles should really have very little to do with breeding activity, other than the fact that they may equate daylight with warmth since basking is their primary source of thermoregulation in the wild (this is just a guess, who knows what psychological effects light cycles really have on reptiles). That being said, I know a number of very reputable breeders that alter photoperiod during breeding season, either alone or in conjunction with temperature and they are successful in doing so. On the other hand, 12 hours of darkness in the wild does not equal 12 hours of low temps, as the ground retains heat for hours after the sun goes down and a snake may chose to bask as soon as it comes out in the morning, leaving only a few hours where the temperature actually hits the lowest point of the day. Considering this, a full 12 hours of night drop is not needed to simulate natural conditions. People experiencing RIs on a regular basis, are most likely either keeping temps low for too long in a stretch or not providing enough heat to kick start the snakes immune system during the day. There are many other factors other than temperature and daylight cycles that may influence breeding activity in ball pythons. Some are known and I am sure there are countless other factors that a snake's unique senses pick up on that humans may never know of. For example, it has been well documented that barometric pressure fluctuations (usually low pressure systems) can induce a strong breeding response in a number of reptile species. The logical parallel to this in the wild is the coming of the rainy season. Try introducing stubborn pairs during a rain or snowstorm, it has worked many times for us!
In the end, if you have a system that works for you (and isn't harming your animals), stick to it, but don't be afraid to try something new if you are having troubles with the textbook method of breeding. Any comments would be appreciated, as this is an interesting subject.
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John Montague
Central Ontario Exotics

jamie_s · Site Moderator Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 1963

i dont cool at all,but my room does does drop in temp in the winter so although the heat cable is the same temp the ambient temp does drop especially at night.
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www.jamieswordsreptiles.com

Lynne · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:32 pm Post subject:

i agree wi jamie. cooling and shorter light cycles will occur naturally. i really think the best way is to let them get on with it and do what comes naturally without interfering, or keeping interference to a minimum.
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alastair · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:14 pm Post subject:

if breeding coincides with the rainy season, would increasing the humidity, or even giving simulated showers have any effect? just an idea, has any one tried it?
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so many morphs, so little money
1.1 Beardies
2.1 Homo sapiens jnr
0.1 royals owned by mikey

snakeypete · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:43 pm Post subject:

Lynne · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:48 pm Post subject:

alastair · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject:

well was just an idea!
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so many morphs, so little money
1.1 Beardies
2.1 Homo sapiens jnr
0.1 royals owned by mikey

Lynne · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:53 pm Post subject:

jamie_s · Site Moderator Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 1963

i often put a little water over the warm area when i introduce the male in to the female.it just creates a little humidity and the snakes seem to like it.however it does only need to be a little,with a cooler ambient temperature it doesnt need a scientist to know what will happen if you soak a cool tub through and through!!!
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www.jamieswordsreptiles.com