Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Brian,

I have a pair of captive bred F2 Yellow Tailed Cribos from Dean A, here in Ohio. This year they may be still too young to breed, both are 6 1/2 feet and 4 years old.

Question:

What is your incubation temperature?
What is you water ratio?

I must admit I like YT even more so than Eastern Indigo's

Truly,

Paul Bodnar
Crocodile Wildlife Conservationist

Hi Paul,

I'm with you in terms of considering the YT my favorite Dry, and that's saying something because I also really like the Texas and Eastern Indigos a lot. Out of all the boas and pythons and colubrids, if I could only keep one genus it would be Drymarchon.

Sounds like yours are large and old enough to breed this year, although you may be getting a late start at it.

I place my Dry and Spilotes eggs on shelves that are in the 76 to 78 degree range, rather than in an incubator. With good success this way, I'm reluctant to put a clutch in an incubator although I don't see why it would be a problem.

The hatching medium (vermiculite) is mixed by "touch" with water, rather than by percentage. Not very scientific I'll admit, but having done it for so long with various types of eggs I've developed a pretty good feel for the right amount. I'm afraid I'm kind of "old school" in my approach to many things related to reptiles.

Dean has some nice YTs, so I imagine yours are as well. Please post some photos whenever you get the chance and inspiration. There are a lot of very nice animals out there, and it's too bad more people don't share photos of their critters on the forum.

Brian

Paul,

I don't think I directly answered your question about the hatching medium to water ratio in my previous response. Since I don't measure the water, the best I can do is describe the moisture level of the vermiculite as medium, in that it is not as moist as it is for ball pythons and not as dry as that used for some other colubrids.

It might be interesting to try hatching them where there is no contact with the hatching medium, where the eggs rest on a grate above the vermiculite. I just haven't been brave enough to risk a clutch of Dry eggs to experiment. Chances are someone on the forum has done this though, and maybe they will share their findings with us.

Brian

Hi Brian,

Hatching out baby Yellow Tail Cribos sounds very similar to hatching out Texas or Eastern Indigos. Incubation temperature ranges in the mid to upper 70's sounds right. Low 80's likely will cause spinal defects in embryos. Brian, there is a chance the female YTC can become egg bound if bred too early?

I was thinking a ratio of 1:14 by volume (water:substrate) once the eggs are laid is best. I will try to take some photo's of these YT cribos, as the pair were the offspring Dean wanted to hold back for himself. The male has a high percentage of yellow.

This year I was not even going to attempt any breeding, as next year I feel it would be better for the female.

Truly,

Paul Bodnar
Crocodile Wildlife Conservationist

Paul,

I guess there is always the chance of a female becoming eggbound, especially is she is of borderline size and age. However, four years of age is certainly old enough, and 6.5 feet if her bodyweight is good seems like it should be fine. Who knows, I could be your first customer! LOL

Yes, I prepare the hatching medium essentially the same for the YTs as I do for the Indigos. Striking that fine line between adequate air exchange and maintaining the proper humidity level is always part of the challenge. Starting off with the right moisture level is certainly important, as is keeping it throughout the roughly 100 day incubation period.

I'll look forward to seeing some photos of your YTs when you get a chance.

Brian