Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a beautiful pair of Hypo Sonoran Gophers that are big enough to breed this year. Do they need to be cooled in order to breed? Has anyone bred Sonorans without cooling with Success?

Thanks for your help!

Bill Black

I bred them the past two years and I cooled mine. However I live in TX and winter in my garage is simply not that cold. We are talking about the coldest being about 50...which would be during Jan/Feb and much of the time being in the low 60s in Dec and late Feb. I also work with Hondurans, and Brooksi, and basically all my colubrids seem to do well at these temps. Why would you not want to cool them? Tom Stevens

My only concerns about cooling is locateing a place in my house that has no basement to get the temp to be low but not too low and also the risk of Respiratory infections.

Bill

You can score a digital thermometer for about 10 bucks at wal mart with a high/low reading. Leave one in your closets overnight, especially in the room you feel may be coolest. The cooler the better, I mean how cold can it get inside a house? Concerns over respiratory problems are not worth much of your time. After all these animals survive in the wild in cold temps during winter, just make sure the container you winter it in is well ventilated. Tom Stevens

Hey Tom I was wondering where in tx you are?

I live in the Austin area...abut 20 miles north of the city. Great place to be since I can reach Dallas/Ft Worth, San Antonio, or Houston within 2 or 3 hours. Where are you at?
Tom Stevens

Well right now im currently living in Colorado, but im originally from waco- temple- killeen area. I will be moving back down there in may. Maybe once I get back down there we can do some road cruising?

WES ELLINGTON

Hey Wes, I am the oddball around here as I almost never go snake hunting. I have so many here at my house....and the fact I am a stay at home dad and always have my 3 year old means I just cant get out much. This may change when she gets a little older but for now I am just happy to be in the position I am in. Your welcome to drop by here and look at my collection if you'd like. Let me know when you're back in the lone star state Tom Stevens

I wasnt sure if you were into road cruising or not, but yes I would love to see your collection sometime! What species are you currently working with? I cant wait to get back to Texas. I will deffinately get in touch with you as soon as I return.

P.S. I want to give you a big thumbs up on those sonoran morphs you produced this year they were awesome looking snakes. Keep up the good work

WES