What will happen if I lower temps with a juvenile?

I had the male and female together for almost 9 years... they never bread. This past year I lowered, then raised the temps - voila... eggs. So if lowering the temps isn't required, was it just a coincidence that they bread this year, and not the previous 8?

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Originally Posted by MikeV

Uhh, I think people say to cool COLUBRIDs for breeding.... never heard about doing that for ball pythons though :O

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I have. Simulating seasons via temperature is a proven technique across many pythons species for improving successful clutch rates. Minimal seasonal changes of even just a 5 degree drop over 4 weeks can simulate a winter season enough to cause a statistical increase of breeding success.

It is not needed for ball pythons, or even most colubrid species, but it does work. You have to do it right and very carefully so as to not over-cool your animals.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

I have. Simulating seasons via temperature is a proven technique across many pythons species for improving successful clutch rates. Minimal seasonal changes of even just a 5 degree drop over 4 weeks can simulate a winter season enough to cause a statistical increase of breeding success.

It is not needed for ball pythons, or even most colubrid species, but it does work. You have to do it right and very carefully so as to not over-cool your animals.

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Well, you learn something new everyday right

So far ive only heard of cooling colubrids, but I guess it is not hard to imagine that you could imply the same "technique" to ball pythons

Thanks for correcting me on that :)

ok, so to wrap this up....

I am going to lower the temps, because I have had success doing so. I plan to take the hot spot from 90 down to 85 at nights from November the 1st through to December the 1st.

The Bumblebee juvi is in good health, so I'm going to risk her going on a hunger strike and see what happens.

If anyone is interested to know what happens with her, let me know, and I'll post an update to this in December to advise.

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Originally Posted by rimelame

ok, so to wrap this up....

I am going to lower the temps, because I have had success doing so. I plan to take the hot spot from 90 down to 85 at nights from November the 1st through to December the 1st.

The Bumblebee juvi is in good health, so I'm going to risk her going on a hunger strike and see what happens.

If anyone is interested to know what happens with her, let me know, and I'll post an update to this in December to advise.

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So you already know what happens when you drop temps?

I THINK I know - if you wanna provide info. I'm all ears.