Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Since there seem to be so many new guys(welcome!) I thought I'd just ask this generic question for their edification..

Before copulation, what temps do you attempt to keep your animals and for how long??

After copulation, how long, if at all, and, at what temps, do you keep the females??

cheers..
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Carl W Gossett
Garage Door Herps
Monument,Colorado...northern territory of the Great Republic of Texas

Glad you posted this question as it it one that doesn't get asked too often but is very important in experiencing success with this species.

Prior to and leading up to copulation, during the fall/winter, I keep my indigos at around the low to mid 60's at night and the upper 60's and low 70's during the day. Additionally, all of the indigos are allowed to bask under a heat lamp for 4-5 hours each day and these basking spots will reach the upper 80's and even approach 90...and believe me, these snakes WILL BASK and MUST BE ALLOWED TO BASK if you are going to have success...but, these basking spots only cover a small portion of the cage.

After successful copulation, I tend to give my females more opportunities to bask (10-12 hours a day) to help them with the developing eggs; so far, it has worked great for me. After large meals, I also increase basking time to help my indigos digest their meals BUT I only offer SMALL prey during the winter months and these meals are offered less frequently.

This is what works for ME...others may have a completely different approach but experience the same level of success.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL

My approach is very similar to Rob’s with a few differences.

I think light cycles are as important as temperatures. In the Northern part of the range, indigos are exposed to cold nights in the fall and winter, but in the extreme southern part (remember these animals range into the everglades and once extended to Key West), they may never see the very cool nights.

I do my very best to stimulate a natural heat and light progression for the entire year. This time of year, they get about 10 hours of light a day and the temps are in the low to mid seventies (with a nice warm basking spot for 4 hours) and the nighttime temps are in the mid sixties.

By the end of November, they will be down to 9 hours of light. The daytime temps will stay close to the same, but it will drop to as low as upper fifties for some of the nights.

Also…I feel it’s important that you don’t try to rush them into spring after they breed. I use a gradual progression after they are gravid, slowly giving them a few more basking hours per day.

I increase the light only as the daylight hours are actually changing in Florida, and even when they are on the early stages of being gravid, they females only get about 5 hours a day to bask. This very gradually increases, and they lay in March or April.

As Rob mentioned, my way is certainly not the only “right” way, it’s just the way that has worked for me.

Thanks guys...I think feeding is critical here, too...I only feed small items later in the pregnancy, just rat pups or large mice and only 1 or 2..I'll feed as often as they'll take it...Just don't want any big stool build up...Not usually a problem except in later gestational stage..
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Carl W Gossett
Garage Door Herps
Monument,Colorado...northern territory of the Great Republic of Texas