Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We have some WC adult subocs, but we haven't been able to get them interested in breeding. I look forward to Dusty's book, but until then, any tips?
How long should we cool them, and does timing of introductions matter a great deal? We staggered intros over a few weeks period from mid June to late July, but nothing happened.
Some of them are several years in captivity, while a few River Roads were captured this year on the night before the new law passed (We were stopped that night).
-Jack
-----
V.P.
Austin Herp. Soc.

I cool mine like the rest of my colubrids: November 15 to about March 1. Mine always breed in mid to late June to early July. Until I got a good tip from Dusty (keep the males relatively cool after hibernation), I got all slugs. Now I keep the males in the low to mid 70's. They eat fine and I get good eggs. I think the higher temps "cook" the sperm and cause infertility. Good luck.

And don't forget about "separation" making the heart grow fonder thing. That did the trick for me. Those pecos like it cooler than most.

Mike

Keeping them on a good aquarium gravel keeps them cooler in the winter, especially if "indian summer" hits, like in the big apple. The gravel can be washed in a water / household vinegar solution overnight and air dried. When I started breeding sub-ocs in the 70's, that's the only medium they were kept on, plus a lot of flat rock formations. Couldn't find much info. on them at the time. The gravel felt ice cold to the touch in the winter at times, but it didn't affect the snakes.
I keep my female in a 4 foot home made cage and will use half with gravel to see if a preference is made. When the aspen trend came around years ago, I switched all my guys to this medium, but will change over to accelerate the cool down for my pecos and some milks.

Mike