is cooling required for females?

I have not cooled in the last two years and it's made no difference that I can tell in my breeding... I also live in a northern state and probably get some natural cooling effect. However, when you consider where these animals are from, (right smack on the equator) changing the temps or the light levels doesn't make much sense. However, one thing I HAVE noticed in breeding (and more importantly, Ovulation) Is that it happens more frequently during times of change. Right after thunderstorms or blizzards or cold snaps are when I see the most breeding activity or ovulations. If you can produce change artificially by dropping temps or light levels, then if it works for you, you should use it. Being the lazy sod that I am, I'm happy to get by with doing nothing....

Mark

wait, so as someone new to breeding I am relatively confused. from this thread I have garnered that cooling is unnecessary? why is it even done then? isn't it a risk because it increases the chances of respiratory infection?
JonV

I don't think that people are saying that cooling is unnecessary unless I am reading it wrong. I have a friend with a large collection. He has a ultrasound and he kept his room to hot. Last year he took my advice one week and dropped it down to 72 degrees at night and within two weeks he had substantial follicle growth. Now don't get them to cold or they will catch resp disease which will kill them. I keep girls that I want to grow follicles faster on the bottom of the rack and it works for me. Ralph's recipe is great also I would recommend the Sutherlands video. I studied both and it really helped!


Brock :sabduel:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brock Wagner

I don't think that people are saying that cooling is unnecessary unless I am reading it wrong. I have a friend with a large collection. He has a ultrasound and he kept his room to hot. Last year he took my advice one week and dropped it down to 72 degrees at night and within two weeks he had substantial follicle growth. Now don't get them to cold or they will catch resp disease which will kill them. I keep girls that I want to grow follicles faster on the bottom of the rack and it works for me. Ralph's recipe is great also I would recommend the Sutherlands video. I studied both and it really helped!


Brock :sabduel:

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How did the ultrasound affect the room temp?


I never drop temps, I just watch the females and palpate for follicles. Once they are there the males go in. If there not there the males go in. That usually kicks the female in the Butt and she gets going..

Jasball or Darkside.


Sorry the ultrasound didn't affect it their size it was the temperature drop. Don't you have girls that are 800grams that lay eggs for you? Seriously what is the smallest girl to lay a viable egg from you. I know that BHB had a 900 gram girl lay a clutch once.

Thanks
Brock

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brock Wagner

Jasball or Darkside.


Sorry the ultrasound didn't affect it their size it was the temperature drop. Don't you have girls that are 800grams that lay eggs for you? Seriously what is the smallest girl to lay a viable egg from you. I know that BHB had a 900 gram girl lay a clutch once.

Thanks
Brock

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She laid 800grams when I started breeding her. 3 eggs. All healthy and 2 are bigger then mom LOL!

Cool do you have a picture of her on the clutch? I suppose if she had the age that wouldn't be a problem for her to produce a viable clutch. Thanks for the info!


Brock

She had the age around 3 years old. She just doesnt grow LOL!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...irdgirl002.jpg

You got the picture cool. Sometimes they do that. They just won't eat! Eggs look good though.


Brock

I think alot depends on where you live. Wether you try to drop temps or not when winter comes temps will drop. Animals are on natural cycles and respond to changes in nature. People in the north have drastic chages in temps and light which animals will pick up on, how exactly I'm not sure but they do. I keep a room climate controled but some of my males will go off feed in the winter no matter how warm I keep it yet other can be cooled and still eat so individuals may vary but in general most follow the natural cycle.

I read (think it was the Barker's) and they tested light cycles in Africa (BP territory) and found because it is on the equator the light barely changed at all (from summer to winter), minutes if I recall correctly. I have used the Sutherlands methods because the are(were) from Southern Cali and I think following someones sucess who is in your general area will probably work best. I used to live in N.Y. and now in L.A. and the climate/seasons are dramatically different so i felt it's best to follow a local breeders sucess formulas and it has worked for me.

As many can see they are many ways to skin a cat and many ways to breed BP's. Some provide no UTH heat in winter, I myself think that is too extreme and always provide a warm basking area but may drop it a little as well as ambient.

It is great to see what others are doing and then see what works best for you.

Happy breeding season everyone, It's October, let the snake porn begin! :D