Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Alright. You guys have helped many people includeing me before. I'm sure you all get this alot, but I need the help and I dont want to read threw thousands of posts lol. This will be my first season breeding and I cant wait. Here is what I'm doing to cycle the snakes this season, tell me if its good or if I need to improve. I leave all heat lights/tapes on durring the day, I turn them all on when I wake up around 7 Indiana time and open my blinds so all natural light can come threw. Then when the sun goes down I turn off the heat lights/tapes (when I'm home lol). I was told I dont even NEED to mess with the heat at all just the natural light cycle will get them ready for breeding. Sence seasons comeing up right around the corner I really need your help with this because I want to make sure that my first season goes good.

Thanks alot,
Blake

Hi Blake,

Your plan sounds fine. Honestly, balls will breed in many situations, they are not really that hard wired. Mine, breed year round (have eggs and breeding occuring right now) and I do not manipulate the temps or light cycles in any way. The ambient (air) temps begin to naturally cool in the fall and my snakes get light from the windows only. When the sun goes down, they have no light. When they want cool, they sit on the cool side of the cage at 73F, when they feel like warming up, they sit on the pad. Give them the choices they need and you won't go wrong. They are stimulated to breed through subtle changes in their environment. A shortening of the photoperiod likely helps and turning off the heat at night will probably concentrate your breedings during the winter/early spring.

As long as your girls ae heavy enough and you don't stop introductions too early, you should do well. Good luck.

Will