is cooling required for females?

[bigballs]

i have read that the theory behind a cooling period is that it elevates the males testosterone levels and this triggers them to want to breed. if this is the case then is cooling really necessary for female bps? couldnt we just cool the males to get them pumped and then place them with the females? does cooling affect the females in any way?

now this is something i have read from only one source and i would like to know what all you experienced breeders think or any other theories you have read.

[Moriar]

pretty sure its not 100% needed but i am also sure there are breeders out there that do it.

[Ginevive]

It is up to the breeder. I bred them successfully for the first time in 2006-7, and I did not cool, and had great results.

[Brock Wagner]

I cool them and have been doing so for the last three years. I start dropping my temps the first of Nov and will continue to do until the second week of April. As females lay eggs they go into a different rack system that I leave the heat on for so they get back back on food. I would highly recommend cooling down to 72 degrees at night.


Later
Brock

Coming Soon PEAR

[Adam_Wysocki]

Over the last 10+ years that I've been breeding ball pythons I've used different combinations of cooling and not cooling ... for the most part I've used what is laid out on my breeding calander ...

http://www.8ballpythons.com/journal/...ngcalendar.htm

Last year I did not cool males at all and had the same success as when I do cool them.

There are many many ways to breed these animals with success, the key is to find the one that works best for you! If you have any questions or if there is any way that I can help at all with your up coming breeding season please don't hesitate to contact me here on Bp.Net or via email or my cell. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions that you have.

-adam

[Ginevive]

I guess that mine do undergo seasonal changes though. While their temperatures do not change, the light/dark cycles surely does. They are in a room with natural lighting (not by a window, but on the other side of the room..) So their day/night cycles are changing during the year; but this is not a temperature change, just a light-cycle change.

[jknudson]

I'm following Adam's calendar...but with my own slight variations, and its working GREAT so far!
But like he said, find out what does and doesn't work for you and adapt.

[Pintado]

I have nowhere the experience that Adam does when it comes to breeding Ball Pythons, and I value his opinion, and respect his willingness to share this experience with us. I have studied ornithology and herpetology. In the classes I took there seemed to be more evidence towards photoperiods having a greater effect on habits of reptiles and birds. I try to reproduce daily changes in temperature as would be found in a more equatorial region of the world. I also used timers and artificial lighting to try to keep closer to a 12/12 photo period.



Bill Phelps

[Adam_Wysocki]

I have nowhere the experience that Adam does when it comes to breeding Ball Pythons, and I value his opinion, and respect his willingness to share this experience with us. I have studied ornithology and herpetology. In the classes I took there seemed to be more evidence towards photoperiods having a greater effect on habits of reptiles and birds. I try to reproduce daily changes in temperature as would be found in a more equatorial region of the world. I also used timers and artificial lighting to try to keep closer to a 12/12 photo period.



Bill Phelps

I agree 100% Bill ... photoperiods are incredibly valuable when breeding ball pythons and I outline the exact day/night times I use throughout the year in my breeding calander. Last year, even though I did not cool males the room in my facility that I keep my males in was given the same light cycle that I've been using for breeding since the beginning!

-adam

[bigballs]

thanks for the responses guys. i have changed my photoperiod from 12/12 to 11/13 in september and now to 10/14 in october. all i have done for cooling so far is drop the hot side at night by 6 degrees from 92 to 86 and the ambient temp naturally lowered to 80 degrees. i was thinking of just leaving the photoperiod and temps the way they are right now and maybe lowering them at night in a two weeks. i would then start cycling males in female tubs in november.


what do you guys think?