Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Awhile back I just switched my breeding females to larger tubs roughly 40 X 22 X 8, to give them more room. Since I've dropped the temps to cool them I have noticed the "far end" part of the tubs drops alot more in a larger tub (duhhh! Of course!).

In the daytime this doest present a problem,but at night I am afraid the "far end" temperatures may be too low.

Is this something I should try and address with additional heating, or will the snakes stay in an area they are comfortable in and just avoid the colder portion of the tub at night?

I hope this makes sense.

Thanks,

Alan

I had a scary experience over the summer that proved that snakes will NOT always stay on the more commfortable side. One night in late July the temp fell to bellow 69 degrees. This is a totally freak thing. Anyway the house was left open all night. The warm side of Nathan's (Scott Phillips ) cage stayed at 75 wich sucks but won't do any damage. The cool side dropped bellow 69 (I didn't have a thermostat at the time). I don't know exactly what it was because my thermometers only go to 69. At any rate, Nathan was on the cold side. I thought he was dead but luckilly no. Once I got him warmed up he was angry as hell though. He actually bit me. Even when I first got him in he was only stressed enough from shipping to strike with his mouth closed. So, to be brief LOL, make sure your temps are right. One solution would be to put the thermostat probe in the cool end of the tub and set for your cool temp. If you achieve the right cool end temp this way then your warm side should be correct also. I've never tried this, but it should work. Any one else think so?
-----
1.1 Balls (1.0 het clown 0.1 normal)
1.1 Kittys and
0.1 WC Human
"I need evaluation...and dinner; and by dinner I don't meen gnome heads!"

What are your temp gradients day/night.

And how are they housed/heated now. (racks/flexwatt??)

A little more info would help to give you better advice.

As said above snakes will thermoregulate, but not always in a timely manner. they might stay in too hot/cold areas when better temps are available.

TomChambers

Sorry,just got in.

I have a rack setup with 2 rows 11 in. flexwatt for back heat. Belly heat is difficult in this setup so I went with 2 rows in the rear. I keep the hot end at 82~85 degrees(now during cool down)daytime and 72~75 at night. I have more horsepower with the flexwatt, but if I turn it up to heat the "far end" the hot spot is like I am not cooling down the snakes. It wasnt a problem until cooldown with this rack.

Is it worth trying to provide a second heat source for the colder end? They seem to gravitate to the appropriate heat just fine. How do they know to come in from the cold in the wild? Even though it is Africa, there must be cold spells.

Alan

Alan,

Everyone seems to have their own recipe for breeding.

That being said, If what each indiviual is doing works for them, than thats great.

I personally use heat tape for the hot end, and use an oil-filled electric heater to better control the cool end.

I have bred my BP's by dropping temps on both ends(heat tape and electric heater); and had good success.

Likewise, I have also bred keeping the hot side set permanantly at 89-90, and just dropped the electric heater temps (cool side) with equal success.

I think you said your hot side is 82-85 day, and 72-75 night.

What are the cool end temps.

Even when I cool both ends, I still give mine a hot end of 83-85 at night(89-90 days) in case they need to warm up.

I usually drop cool end from 80-82 day to 75-77 night.

Thats all I have ever needed.

Again, like I said there are many different ways to breed, if someone has a different way that works for them it's all good.

I'm a little concerned about your night temps, if it's 76ish on the hot end how cold is the cool end.

hope that helps some

TomChambers

"I'm a little concerned about your night temps, if it's 76ish on the hot end how cold is the cool end."

I meant if it's 72-75 at night. what is the cool end.

Geeze one beer after work and everything falls apart LOL

TomChambers

Hey Tom,

I need a cold one and I just got into work!

The cold end is like 72~75 days and 68~70 nights.I was concerned that if I turn the hot side up to 90 degrees day and 85ish nights, the snakes will just stay in the warm area and it would be like I didnt cycle them at all. This wasn't a problem till my new rack. With the smaller tubs the gradient was perfect one end to the other.

I appreciate the help,

Alan

p.s. maybe I am over thinking things?

Two typos, I couldn't even spell sorry last night.

Nice snakes before I forget.

Well, in my opinion (opinions are like what???????)I think you are getting a little too cold at night.

I think if you did put the hot side to 89-90 days, and 82-85 night your temps would be spot on.

And they will cycle, those are very close to temps I've used with a good succuss rate.

My females will spend most of the winter on their cold side, and I never let the hot side go below 83-85 ever.

This year I'm keeping my hot side temps set at 89 again, and just changing the cool side.
So far all the females i've introduced are breeding great, and been on the cold side whenever I check.(getting fiesty too)

Good luck with whatever you decide, I hope they breed well for you, and give many eggs.

TomChambers