So i'm thinking about starting to breed cornsnakes...i've been keeping corns for about 10 years, and i have always wanted to start breeding..i cant deny that i have aspirations of breeding lots of corns at some point, hopefully having my own business. Anyway, for starters im going to breed the two adults that i have, and go from there.



This forum has been a great resource for me in the past, and i appreciate all of the help you have all given me I have a few questions here to start...



1. Cooling period? I was reading in The Cornsnake Manual, and Kathy Love outlined a detailed process of cooling and rewarming her snakes...it sounds like a prety lengthy and involved process, and seemed to be A) to trigger the snakes into ovulation and also B) to make sure that all her breeding snakes were on the same cycle. My question is this...how many of you cool your corns? and if so, what process do you use? I have no problem doing the cool down, but im just wondering how big of a process it is for everyone? Also, if its more to just keep the snakes all ont he same cycle - is it necessary to do an extended and involved cool down for just the two snakes? Could i do more of an abbreviated cool down/warm up cycle? The one in the cornsnake manual sounds like it would take months and months to complete? Again, if its necessary, i will do it - i want whats best for my snakes...i just wanted some input? What has worked for others?



2. I think im going to have to invest in a small breeding rack...my house is already overrun with tanks and i want to be able to seperate all the hatchlings. Im going back and forth between buying and building a rack. Im wondering what most of you do? Buy or build? If you buy - from where? I looked at a few and they priced out in the 1,000$'s!!! I dont really have that kind of money to spend on a rack...well, i technically do, but i would rather not!



3. Heat tape? this is probably a really DUMB question - but i have never used heat tape...i've always used heat pads for each tank. Using heat tape in a breeding rack my questions are these...Do you put the heat tape onto the tubs themselves? Or onto the "floor" underneath them? Im thinking if you attach them to the tubs themselves you wouldnt be able to pull each one out. Also, do they run the risk of melting the plastic? And also, do you use a strip of heat tape on each shelf and connect each strip to a rheostat?



Thanks for all the help guys!!!
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