not to sure on the het thing, as for breeding westerns mine bred super easy. my methods are as follows



I kept my hogs together most of the year in spacious rubbermade tote not sure of actual dementions. fed serperately and seperated for winter brumation and egg deposition.



i'll start in june and go though a season. in june I fed my male bi weekly and female weekly



keep up the feedings till a week before thanksgiving, the 1 week before brumation allows any food to pass and prevent problems, like gut rot.



I seperated my snakes at this time placing them in a dark closet where temps ranges 45-60 and even lower at times, I used my closet. I kept them in two seperate 10 gallon aqariums with about a foot of aspen bedding and fresh water at all times I also covered the cages with a towel.



I kept them like this till st patricks day then I took both snakes placed them in there summer home at first I use no heat pad then after a few days I plus the heat pad in. and begin to attempt to feed (male usually won't eat for a while) I feed my female heavily so she has good weight and makes strong babies.



I rarely witnessed them actually breeding but could here them thrashing around at times usually early in the morning. skip a few weeks and the female starts to show signs she is gravid and usually stops eating after the first shed from hibernation. I'll remove the male at this time. the next time the female sheds I make a nest box and place it in the cage, about 1-2 weeks afterh her 2nd shed she will lay eggs (i remove the eggs for artificial incubation) I incubate at 80 degrees and around 90% humidity. after eggs are laid I give her a day or two and offer food re introduce the male in hopes of a 2nd clutch sometimes she would sometimes she won't.



don't be afraid to try new things this works for me and may not for you depending on location, weather. just try untill you succeed then youll be hooked.



wayne

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