Best temps for balls???

I keep my hot sides at 88-90 on the substrate measured with a temp gun and probe placement on the surface of the enclosure at 92. i found anything warmer than that they will hang on the cool side, especially during breeding season.

You don't need to cool for ball pythons for breeding.

They're geographically in areas that don't significantly change climates for seasons like colubrids do, so there really isn't a reason.

I decided not to cool for breeding this year, by the way...the results? 3 clutches in the incubator already, and more on the way. They're big clutches, too. My little girl who was 1700 grams going into the season just dropped 7 eggs. (She had the prev year off due to not making 1500 in time--she's an older girl, already proven, just small).
If I get just as many clutches without cooling, I am not going to bother cooling again.

Check out VPI's book!!! We heat our room to 80*-81* Temps tend to drop at night during the winter for the breeding cool down. After the female ovulates we put them 24hr heat @ 86* This is our first year breeding and we have gotten our first pre-lay shed. Come on eggs no slugs:banana:

I find there really is no best temp. The best temp is whatever temps your Balls thrive at. Obviously there is a minimum and maximum temp but overall go with what works for you and your snakes.
I keep mine at 90 warm side and 78-80 cool side and have never had an issue.
As far as breeding goes I do not manually cool my snakes as I live in Ontario and the winter months lower my house temp enough to get things going.
I just keep everything set year round and let mother nature do the rest.

Gavin

I chose #3. All mine do fine this way. No sickness and I can keep my boas in the same cage stack with some balls and no one complains.

i have talked and listen to a few large breeders and a newer way of thinking is keeping a general belly heat or hot spot at 88-89 degrees cool 76-78. in an attempt to see if it has any impact on less slugs from femal. the thought is if egs are ncubated at 89 degrees why are we heating the females bellie 90-95 does not really seem logical. i wil be trying this also . i wil not ever drp my temps again i had RI issuse 2 xs now . good thread

My balls sit toasty and comfy at 90-95 on the hot side and around 78 on the cool side. Ambient air is always around 80-84

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

I decided not to cool for breeding this year, by the way...the results? 3 clutches in the incubator already, and more on the way. They're big clutches, too. My little girl who was 1700 grams going into the season just dropped 7 eggs. (She had the prev year off due to not making 1500 in time--she's an older girl, already proven, just small).
If I get just as many clutches without cooling, I am not going to bother cooling again.

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Stick with the non cooling. Ive never done it with corns or balls and every female i set out to breed has produced for me. its such a pain to remember to keep fiddling with room temps each day for months. Screw all that.