Nearly time for it....!

[beaniebopps]

A few questions I would appreciate being answered!! Sorry for the longish post...

So 2 days ago Jake and Electra received their last meal for this year. *sob sob* I have bought suitable ventilated under bed storage boxes, stuck thermometers all around the house finding the ideal place, spent what seems a lifetime reading about breeding and hatchlings and brumation, and well... HERE GOES!!

Because I couldn't get a place with ideal temps warm enough that didnt get too warm, I am setting up a weak heat mat with a thermostat to a temp higher than I want, but am placing the snakes boxes well above it. I have used thermometers top test the distance to place the boxes to get the ideal temp. Does anyone see any problems with this method?

I am leaving them at their normal temps for another 2 weeks to make sure they digest everything... but I am unsure whether I should do the 'cooling' in the boxes they will brumate in, or in their vivs?

Is 5 weeks at the cool temperature (and 2 weeks before 'cooling' and 1 week after gradually 'warming') long enough? Do I have to wait for the female to shed after she has warmed up and eaten before attempting their romatic date?

And lastly.... I have put quite a bit of work in to calming them down and earning trust from them. Will they forget all about it and get nervous being handled again?

Thanks I'm so scared something might go wrong!

 

[Drizzt80]

I can only relate what I personally do with my breeders:
This year's schedule:
>Last Meal given 10/12, snakes in regular cages (32 Qt. Sterilites).
>Heat off in cages (room temperature) 10/26, snakes in regular cages.
>Placed in brumation tubs (15 Qt. sterilites) in an outside wall cupboards that drops in temperature (between 48 and 55 end of Nov. and Dec. . . . they're at 65 right now.), 11/2
>Snakes brought back to room temperature cages 12/21, regular cages.
>Heat turned on, back to 80*F, 1/4
>First meal offered between 1/7 and 1/11.
Total of 70 days (10 weeks) from Heat off to Heat on.

Hope that makes sense and helps.
D80

 

[Jay@PJCReptiles]

I can only relate what I personally do with my breeders:
This year's schedule:
>Last Meal given 10/12, snakes in regular cages (32 Qt. Sterilites).
>Heat off in cages (room temperature) 10/19, snakes in regular cages.
>Placed in brumation tubs (15 Qt. sterilites) in an outside wall cupboards that drops in temperature (between 48 and 55 end of Nov. and Dec. . . . they're at 65 right now.), 11/2
>Snakes brought back to room temperature cages 12/21, regular cages.
>Heat turned on, back to 80*F, 12/28
>First meal offered between 12/31 and 1/4.
Total of 70 days (10 weeks) from Heat off to Heat on.

Hope that makes sense and helps.
D80

Excellent post Brent. You couldn't have explained how to do it any better even if you had done it for him yourself.
Jay

 

[Drizzt80]

Excellent post Brent. You couldn't have explained how to do it any better even if you had done it for him yourself.
Jay

Thanks, but I made a couple minor errors. Guess that's what happens when you're not checking your records and going from memory! Thank goodness for Excel spreadsheets! Heat off should have stated 10/26, not 10/19. I provide for 2 full weeks to empty the gut from that last meal before turning off the heat. Also, heat back on is 1/4, with the first meal coming within the week after that.

D80

 

[beaniebopps]

Thanks Brent, that was helpful, especially as it is a cupboard against an outside wall I am planning to put them in!!

Excellent post Brent. You couldn't have explained how to do it any better even if you had done it for him yourself.
Jay

It was an excellent post, however I am not a 'him' I am a 'her' thanks

 

[Drizzt80]

Thanks Brent, that was helpful, especially as it is a cupboard against an outside wall I am planning to put them in!!

Also, just to help, I place my digital thermometer probes in the tubs with them as well. That way if it dips too low (lower/mid 40's) I can crack the cupboard doors open. I don't usually worry about too warm as sub 60's is the norm.

Glad I could be of assistance.
D80

 

[beaniebopps]

Is 5 weeks at the cool temperature (and 2 weeks before 'cooling' and 1 week after gradually 'warming') long enough? Do I have to wait for the female to shed after she has warmed up and eaten before attempting their romatic date?

And lastly.... I have put quite a bit of work in to calming them down and earning trust from them. Will they forget all about it and get nervous being handled again?
QUOTE]

Sorry, just bumping these questions as still not really answered....

Beanie

 

[grimm1]

everyones post brumation varies a little. some pair right off for short periods(1-3 days) feeding small meals in between. some feed first trying to put any little ounce back on then pair after shed. either way is fine, i have notice that certain types breed a little later in the season, my silver queens are always the last to hook up.
as far as a memory of you, hard to say, never had a corn bite me except while i'm trying to steal moms eggs after work. good luck

 

[Drizzt80]

Is 5 weeks at the cool temperature (and 2 weeks before 'cooling' and 1 week after gradually 'warming') long enough? Do I have to wait for the female to shed after she has warmed up and eaten before attempting their romatic date?

I did a shorter brumation for a small group of snakes two years ago, and it seemed to work fine. 5 weeks cool should work out for you. I offer the first meal out of brumation (smaller than normal, usually a hopper), and then typically wait for the female to have her first shed before I introduce the male. Sometimes the females will go 2 sheds or sometimes the males won't be ready. :shrugs: It really becomes a bit of a guessing game after that. You just keep working at introducing them. I typically try once a week until they hook up. If I'm planning to pair them a second time, I do it again after 3 days.

And lastly.... I have put quite a bit of work in to calming them down and earning trust from them. Will they forget all about it and get nervous being handled again?

Shouldn't be a problem.

D80

 

[jazzgeek]

Is 5 weeks at the cool temperature (and 2 weeks before 'cooling' and 1 week after gradually 'warming') long enough? Do I have to wait for the female to shed after she has warmed up and eaten before attempting their romatic date?

And lastly.... I have put quite a bit of work in to calming them down and earning trust from them. Will they forget all about it and get nervous being handled again?
QUOTE]

Sorry, just bumping these questions as still not really answered....

Beanie

Seems like Brent answered the first, given the schedule that he posted....10 weeks, imho, would work better than 5.

Usually, you'll begin "fattening them up" as soon as they're warmed up out of brumation.....and most breeders start pairing 'em up after the female's first "post-brumation" shed, but this is by no means a hard and fast rule.

As for the handling.....well, my opinion is that they don't "remember" much, in the human sense of cognition. It's more of an "acclimation and tolerance", given their lil' reptilian brains. I've not noticed any change in the snakes I've brought out of brumation regarding handling.

regards,
jazz