Best Ways to Avoid RI During Breeding?

Since I'm breeding my normals as a start, I would like to know the best way to avoid the male or female getting an RI. I'm doing 3 in 3 out. Though I separated them for over a week to get them to settle down and get a few meals in them. Right now the female is tail wagging and musking so signs seem pretty good.

Breeding is pretty stressful on them from what I was told and I can definitely see why so I would like to reduce the chances of them getting an RI as much as possible. This is also the third time I've paired them up.

RIs are rare during breeding.

Theres no reason for them to get one unless your providing less than adequate housing.

IF your cooling them and dropping to 75 at night, thats not cold enough to get them sick at all. I know some that keep 70-90 year around no problems. As long as they have a hot spot to get too your fine.


Then again no cooling is needed to get eggs. Never do i drop temps for breeding anything.

As long as your temps are good and everything is good then no RI should happen.


Then again I have never done a heat cycle/light cycle/ anything at all I just keep them exact same year round. Only light that gets in the room is when I turn it on when I go to check on them twice a day. Temps are always an exact 80 for room temp and 92 hot side temp. Year round 24/7. I just breed with storms. Notice a good storm front coming in and bam got breeding goin on.

Anyways thats a different subject. As long as your husbandry is good nothing should go wrong for you. I have not had a single female get an RI during breeding season and have actually only ever had an RI pop up once in one of my boas but nohting else. I just got lucky I guess.

Thanks for the replies guys!

I guess I'm just trying to take precautions, I've had one RI with my Kingsnake (even though it wasn't that bad) and having to know that a vet visit needs to take place makes me think Ugghh LOL.

dont think about it ever. Take one day at a time and deal with whats in front of you NOW.

Okie dokie will do Rich!

You will notice alot of RI post during breeding season. If you take notice about 90% of them are dropping temps for breeding. I know many people that do not drop temps, myself included, and never had an RI. I know some will say no way but if you keep an eye on threads you will start to see it. That is why I don't drop and never will.

I would suggest two things even though I agree with most of what was said above. I think some people over cool and some people over breed. If you cool (I do) a slight nighttime drop for a couple months is all that's necessary. I like the slight nighttime drop as it seems to improve my breeding. But do what works for you since most homes naturally cool slightly during the winter, even here in Phoenix. Also, there is no need to constantly breed. If I have seen a lock the male gets a rest, he doesn't need to stay in the bin with the female. They do seem to get stressed during breeding so I feel there is no need to add to it for the male or female. I also only feel a need to breed a female once every few weeks. This way I can cycle males and rest animals as much as possible. Just my opinions though, but it works very well for me.

I never intended to cool, but I guess it might've been naturally. I never really wanted to cool anyways. When I see that they lose interest (normally after 1-2 days) I'll separate them. Right now they are in a pretty good lock so things are goin' good. :D

Good luck!!