"His banner over me is love ...", love the GSM Pierson! I'm sure that Kingsnake chose it because it looks so serene ... are they aware that your snakes eat small fish and wild pigs!!?
I'm still trying to get over the post below regarding a water snake and 80 degree temps! I'd be out herping myself right now if I could see snakes through the snow!
Which brings me to my question guys; as PH has noted, nerodia breeding may initiate in the spring following a dormant period ... what is "spring"? In the past, spring was the MONTH of April for my kingsnakes. Now, with a forced dormancy due to cold weather and the likelyhood of it warming up ... is it temperature that will be the catalyst for breeding? And in particular, is there a window of opportunity I could miss especially if the temps fluctuate?
I have the snakes in a separate, heated (insulated) building, problem is - it's been so cold that the place has chilled even with the heater running 24 hours which JUST keeps it at about 60F.
For safety's sake I must keep the heater going full blast to overcome the probability of night time freezing. Temperatures may/will rise and fall. SO ... do I hold off 'til I have a truly consistent enviroment - or - should I wait for a longer photo period? Or??
By the way, right now I'm considering the Florida Banded as they're the only pair of age, other than the Red Belly female/Yellow male.
Michael
Reptile & Amphibian Forums
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"Spring" breeding catalyst (?)
Replies (3)
60 degrees is plenty cool enough provided the snakes have had other ques signaling 'winter'. Most importantly, these should include a much reduced feeding regimen and shortened daily photoperiods. Fortunately, Nerodia are far less picky about these conditions than most snakes and will probably breed even in the absence of a brumation period provided they are well fed.
Michael, I suspect you won't have any problems getting your fasciata to breed once your average temps rise into the mid to upper 70s. I suggest placing the male and female together shortly after the female sheds her skin. The smell of a freshly shed female seems to be irresistable to the Nerodia men-folk.
P.S. I'm sorry I supplanted your erythrogaster pic at the top of the forum. Just thought some might enjoy a little change in scenery, ya know?
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Pierson Hill
Herpetology and Herpetoculture
Variety is the spice of life, but how will I break the news to my mom!?? She USED TO BE so proud of me ... besides, the clarkii you gave me are much, much prettier! (I'm sticking my tongue out now).
For sure the feeding has been curtailed, the snakes themselves though still out occassionally for a look about, have not shown any avid interest in my presence. Once the temps dropped below 70ish, food had not been offered.
As for the photo period, I have maintained the light cycle for warmth IF desired (a fretful option on my part) however, natural sunlight which bathes the room washes the lights out and maintains or allows a more normal winter period. Despite this possible error on my part, the snakes have not come out to "sunbathe" at all since the cool down.
Notwithstanding, I will reduce artificial light to enhance their season.
And I should resume feeding/light cycle____________?
I want to get my timing right with feeding/shedding, etc.
Darn, gotta go - lunch!
Michael
>>And I should resume feeding/light cycle____________?
If you've been able to keep them brumating for at least 6 weeks, I'd resume normal feeding once you can reliably keep the ambient temps above 70 degrees AND offer the snakes' a 80 degree basking spot (primarily for proper digestion). I'd warm the snakes up gradually, perhaps over the period of a week or so, and then offer them food. Light cycles are not nearly as important as temperatures and feeding and I wouldn't bother over it too much.
Shedding is not really of concern either. Most of the snakes will go into a shed cycle once they've been warmed up and start feeding again. Wait until this shed cycle (or possibly a second) has occurred before you place mating pairs together.
As for me, I'm not even brumating my adult pair of Gulf Salt Marsh Watersnakes this year. I fully expect that they'll go ahead and mate and produce babies solely as an artifact of being housed together.
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Pierson Hill
Herpetology and Herpetoculture
