Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just palpated my female Unicolor today and she has at least 7 eggs. She shed today so my question is how long is gestation? This is my first go-round with unicolor Cribos.

-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

Congrats! Beautiful snake.

bill, usually between 12 to 20 days give or take & mine always lay at night. good luck!

Thank you for the information. She will go into a manditory nest box in eight days. I have had good luck with all my other colubrids doing this. It will be heat taped on the back side and coconut husk as substrate. Surface temp of substrate will on heat tape will be 88F. Cool end of box will be 78F so she can pick and choose temp. I will try to get a pic without bugging her. It is the same substrate I will be hatching the eggs in. The water bowl will be very small just big enough for her head.

-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

i'd be remiss if i didn't mention that 88* is a bit too warm bill & may well harm the eggs should she [somehow] lay on that side of the box. remember that incubation temps w/ drymarchon much above 80* frequently lead to birth deformities, dead in egg, etc. hope this helps.....

I incubate at 78F. I think it important that a gravid female be given a heat option during her gestation period. Since the egg is not developed enough to warrent spinal kinks at that stage. I have had most if not all my gravid females keep themselves at around 88F during their gestation when given the heat option. I have had a few problems with femalse that were accidently kept to cool during that time...........Bill
-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

I'd ask you to lower your temps by 5 degrees F, so will you compromise and drop them 3? 2?

Some don't like it hot!

Good luck with them no matter what you do!

The temperature where uncolored cribos are from range from 170F surface temp to 55F subterranean . My question for you is if they are offered natural basking temps what will they choose when gravid in nature. Imagine you may be right when you answer. Keep in mind I study this stuff.
-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

If the temps are warmer than incubation temperature is she going to be happy about laying them there? I don't know the answer, but I'd give her a choice on the temp if you can.

My limited experience is that erebennus lay on the cool side of the nest box and I keep my temp range around 73 to 82. But YMMV as they say on the internets!

By the way, I know you study. Your knowledge of critters is far beyond mine. I looked into raptors many years ago and sadly knew I didn't have what it took to follow that path. Getting married is less of a commitment!

Good luck with all your projects!

The coolest end of her enclosure is 74F right now she has choosen 82F for now I would guess she will go hotter still but I will keep you posted.
-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

She is up 2F today. She is at 84F. I would imagine that a female can make her eggs easier if she keeps her body temp up a bit guess it keeps her matabilsm up. I will get a temp reading in the spot she chooses to lay.
-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

It will be interesting to hear what she does.

yes bill, but the temp of the micro-habitat that these animals live in on the forest floor seldom rises out of the 70's & can get quite cool at night. mike has a point in that cribos are definitely different from their n/american cousins. they thermoregulate the complete opposite way reflecting heat off them w/ their light coats when necessary & mainly staying out of the sun. my uni's insist on temps in the mid to high 70's & start to get upset at about 82*. they would go bersek at 88*. but i have seen gravid females seek out warm spots from time to time. that said, my own gravid female has been hanging out in a 74* corner for about 10 days now seldom moving other than to check in on her nest box once in a while. i think i'll call her 'icy'. this is her from last year before she lost her innocence.....and stole her mates as well. lol!

Right now she is moving between 82F and 84F
-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

Food for thought. I have had my Unicolor Cribos in outside enclosures with underground chambers. They would bask at about 92F before retreating underground. Sometimes they would lay out for a few hours at that temp. I have taken temperature readings of 86F from the ground where the sun is shining on days that had an air temp of 55F. Yes the forest floor might be only 70F but if the sun is shining on it may well get over 100F. My parrot snakes would bask at 102F from sun up to sunset and I got viable eggs! There are no rules but I am heeding the advice.
-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

outside huh? that's pretty interesting, wish i could do that but the kids around here are murder! i remember some pics you showed of an outside lizard enclosure once now that you mention it. i can see where snakes might act differently when they'd have to control their temps themselves instead of being waited on 'hand & foot' as it were. here's the best i can do for them but they strictly avoid that lamp other than the occasional gravid female. keep us posted when possible bill & thanks.

My female Uni is from Honduras. Even though Strictly imported her from there I know that does not mean much. Here are the ambient air temps in Honduras today. Paste into your Browser.

http://www.wunderground.com/global/HO.html
-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

It has come close to egg laying time. She now has settled in at 79-78 four strait days. Good thing I cooled the cool end. Thanks for the advise. That is why I am on this forum good people good information.........Bill
-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."