What temp. for maternal incubation?

[Jenasourousrex]

Well, the container I'm going to put her in to incubate the eggs is a 41qt. Rubbermaid container and is 29x18x6. So, just put the 6qt. in there for a lay box? Also, do you think I should put any holes in the 41qt? If so how many and where?

[RichsBallPythons]

Well, the container I'm going to put her in to incubate the eggs is a 41qt. Rubbermaid container and is 29x18x6. So, just put the 6qt. in there for a lay box? Also, do you think I should put any holes in the 41qt? If so how many and where?

Yes you need holes in the 41qt to allow ventilation. But the 6 qt will not be a lay box. You put that in after eggs are laid and use is strictly for humidity. Coconut husk/fiber holds water very well

[Quiet Tempest]

Well, the container I'm going to put her in to incubate the eggs is a 41qt. Rubbermaid container and is 29x18x6. So, just put the 6qt. in there for a lay box? Also, do you think I should put any holes in the 41qt? If so how many and where?

6qt sounds awfully small for a ball python lay box. That's around the size I'd use for a corn snake. When I let my female ball maternally incubate last year, she was kept in a 40g breeder tank and I gave her a 35qt Sterilite tub to use as a nest box. After she ovulated, she spent the majority of her time under the moss in that tub. For your situation, if you plan to house her in the 41qt tub I don't think you'll need a lay box at all. The only reason I gave mine a lay box was to help keep humidity up so mom wasn't having to remain coiled tight around the eggs all the time. For you, the humidity should stay at safe levels throughout as long as you're using a substrate that holds humidity well.

I use cypress mulch from Lowe's but have never heat treated the bedding I buy. Instead, I spray the tub or tank with Provent-a-Mite or other mite spray as a preventative and let that dry before putting my substrate down. I've been doing this for the past few years and haven't had any creepy crawlies in there.

As for holes in the tub. I do put holes in my tubs. I use a wood burning wand ($8 at Walmart) to burn a few holes in the front and along the sides just so I know there's some air exchange taking place. I know of others who don't put any holes in the tubs as well, so as long as the tub isn't airtight it's really up to you.

[bman123]

I think maternal incubation is cool. It allows you to not buy a incubator or extra T stat. Let nature do it's thing. You only need to control the temp and humidity

[bman123]

The bad thing is the mom will probably need to skip the next breeding season due to all the weight she will lose.
I would like to hear who has done maternal incubation here.

[ParmleyStyle]

this is a really cool thread.... also some hydroponic mediums are sterile,pest and dicease free... like coco coir... just my 2 cents... do you have a few pics??

[JEWSKIN]

ok I don't know that much about the breeding of these guys as I have the Stupid Question thread but I'll take something from the master himself "They've been doing it on their own for thousands of years" thank goodness for Bob Clark

[bman123]

I think maternal incubation is good for small time people. If you only have a clutch or 2 each year it is good. Saves you money on the whole incubator set up for sure.

I also think its good if you are keeping majority of the clutch for future breeding stock. The mom probably wont go next season and that's good if your keeping female's from the clutch for future breeding. It's gonna take 18 to 24 months if you keep female's anyway. Now you got me googling maternal incubation lol...

[Lolo76]

I can't answer your questions, but wanted to say good luck - and keep us updated! I seriously considered maternal incubation, but as this is my first year breeding I've decided to go artificial. Next year I may do half & half, or at least allow one mother to incubate... it just seems so natural, doesn't it?

[don15681]

do your research, when a snake incubates her eggs in the wild she can laid them where she wants. she picks the area that has the conditions that will give her the temps and humidity needed for her eggs. By having her in a tub, she has very limited areas to laid. So it's still your responsiblity to provide her with the right conditions. Most breeders incubate the eggs to raise the hatch rate, the snake going back on feed sooner is a bonus. My hatch rate is almost 100% and I incubate the eggs. I'm not saying for you not too do this, but to do your research and stay on top of it. It doesn't take much for things to go wrong. let us know how everything from the laying to hatching is going. Good luck Don