Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This question does exactly pertain to ball pythons in particular, but since this is the most visited snake forum i figured you guys would be able to help. I read a lot about breeding snakes and for most speices it is commonplace to "cool" them prior to breeding. My question is, how do you control the lowering of the temps? Do you just do it naturally with the season change? Or do you use other methods to make sure the temps drop how and when you want them to?

TIA
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

Depending on your environment, you can do either.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Say you lived somewhere where is would be impractical to let it go naturally, what methods would you use to artificially control the lowering of the temps?
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

and I just keep them at a warm temp all summer and in October I just open the window and let it stay that way until February or March. I have a small heater that turns on if the temp drops below 70 but other than that they just do it on their own. I keep the hot spot at 90 in the day and 85 at night year round. The only thing that is in the AC is the incubator which will overheat if left to the elements.

Normally I use the environment but our weather in Central Fl has been way too wacky. We had temps of 90 degrees in January! It gets hot - above 85 - and then drops to low 50s all in the same day. This year is the worst. Still getting cold fronts in May! I know of couple other breeders in Florida having problems dealing with the ups and downs.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I live in Wisconsin so it is a way different deal then what Jay has to manage.

I have to heat my room all year electrically....I just drop my ambient temp in October by 10 degrees. I keep my hot spot locked in at 90-91 all year. I drop the ambient from the low 80's to the low 70's. That kicks them in to gear....everyone stops eating if they havn't already.

It is optimal to have programmable thermastats....for night drops on the hot spot....but I don't....so I don't.

Good luck.
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Jim Perron
Python Passion Reptiles
pythonpassion@hotmail.com
www.pythonpassionreptiles.com

I'm in Michigan, and I'm also prehistoric in my methods. I only have one pair in the same tank year round. If they don't start on their own, which they will occasionally, I shut off the both the overhead lamp and the under tank heat for about 2 weeks. At that time I will turn the under tank back on at 90 degrees and I leave them like this for the winter. I start heating from above again in late February, early march. Works for me.

Quig