The general consensus, which I'm not married to, is that males are more fertile if allowed to cool which was basically modeled after broad observations of what is largely perceived to be seasonal breeding in wild snakes (at least NA colubrids).
I agree with this. I also believe each species requires a different temp during brumation to maximize the males ability to produce vial sperm. I know SA milks(eg. Hondurans, Pueblans) can produce vial sperm on mostly light cycle to induce breeding behavior. On the other hand I also put L.knoblochi through the same conditions as the previous and only had 20% fertility last year. This past winter I put both through a cookie cutter brumation ( 50F for 4 months, total darkness) and the SA milks did fine(same as last year) and my knoblochi had a 85% fertility rate.


Don't get me wrong I am almost positive there is a window for maximum fertility of the eggs. Do I know what it is, nope? Could it be 10 days prior to actually ovulation all the way to pre-lay shed, total possibility. I have confirmed this year that there is not always a pre-ovulation shed prior to ovulation. I started pairing everything up the day I started feeding this year and I witness copulation in L.ruthveni and L.knoblochi 5 days after first meal. Doesn't mean that, that is when ovulation occurred because they both laid eggs 8-10 weeks after first copulation. The L.knoblochi had their first shed of the year as their pre-lay shed.

I am a true believer that each species or even sub-species are wired differently for their surrounding ecosystem. I have one L.ruthveni that always cycles early and one that doesn't cycle til May. I also have noticed this in L.knoblochi this year. Does it have to do with calorie intake,light cycle, or is that the way the are wired. Males could be wired the same way, some may produce vial sperm early some later.


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