As far as I know, its heat that inhibits healthy sperm in males, like longterm exposure to temps steadily over 80F



As long as my montanes had a range of temps they were fertile. Its when I went to hot or to cold without giving them a choice that I ran into problems.



In fact, in the early years when i hibernated them. we ran into infertility on the first clutches out of hibernation but were fertile on second clutches.



I cured that by not hibernating males, then had no problems.



Comparing them to what they do in nature can be very misleading.



I live near pyros and specialized in them for many years. I watched many populations in the field including nesting areas.



In nature, some individuals, particularly the breeders, seek areas with high mass temps. While the surface is cold, in the ground is not.



I have used this example before. The Santa Ritas has pyros. On the east side there is a cave in cave creek canyon(gardner canyon) ITs at aprox 6000 ft. inside the cave its 72 degrees year around. The sunny aspect is much hotter.



On the west side of the mountains there is another cave, only a bit lower. I think about 5000 ft, maybe a little less. Its 80F your around inside that cave.



So, anything past three feet in, has a choice of fairly high temps. Even at higher elevation. They actually need to get closer to the surface to find cool temps, In the winter.



And yes it snows there, only it quickly melts on the south sides and stays on the north sides. Hardly ever lasting more then a day.



What I am attempting to point out is, they indeed have the ability to obtain temps above 50 or even 60F anytime they want. If they choose. In nature. And they do choose.



What we do in captivity is limit choices. But we do not have to. Cheers

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