would be to leave the eggs with a female through the entire incubation period and continue the large fluctuation of the day-night temp cycle as you are doing. I have been using maternal incubation almost exclusively with several python species over the last 30 years and have learned quite a bit about this behavior. The P. molurus complex are the most intense and temperature controlling of all thermoregulating python species. Yet when their eggs are pulled, they will usually continue to physiologically thermoregulate through muscular contractions for many days if you do not intervene. However, they still do not maintain the characteristic, very cyclic contractions, or have near the elevated body temp as when they are on an actual egg mass. As such, it is possible your female BHP were not into the full scale maternal incubation mode and would not have been exhibiting their full maternal behavior or instinct as they might on an actual egg mass. It sounds like the jury may still be out on Aspidites as far as their ability to physiologically thermoregulate. No one I am aware of has done it, but it would be a great research project to leave eggs with several female BHP under simulated natural conditions and fully determine the extent of their capabilities. Great discussion.

Kelly

[ Show Entire Thread ]