|
August |
About mid month, I begin to put
breedable or close to breedable females on a heavier feeding
schedule than normal. This helps them build up fat stores
needed for egg production. Males are monitored for weight
and heavier breeder males are actually put on a lighter
feeding schedule.
|
Day (7am - 9pm): |
|
Night
(9pm - 7am): |
| Ambient
Temp: |
82 - 84 degrees |
|
82 -
84 degrees |
| Heat
Tape Temp: |
94 degrees |
|
94
degrees |
|
Humidity: |
60% |
|
60% |
| Lights: |
on |
|
off |
|
|
September |
I continue heavier than normal
feedings on females, all the time watching their weight. In
my experience, "fat" females actually make poor breeders. I
like to get my girls "plump" but not fat. I'm also still
keeping an eye on my males to make sure they are not too fat
and lazy ... skipping some feeding may be necessary to get
them "trim".
|
Day (7am - 9pm): |
|
Night
(9pm - 7am): |
| Ambient
Temp: |
82 - 84 degrees |
|
82 -
84 degrees |
| Heat
Tape Temp: |
94 degrees |
|
94
degrees |
|
Humidity: |
60% |
|
60% |
| Lights: |
on |
|
off |
|
|
October |
Still following a heavier than
normal feeding schedule for the females .... Around mid
month, I begin to cycle. Not only do I allow the ambient
temps to get cooler, I also start dropping temps on the heat
tape and shorten the length of my "days".
|
Day (7am - 8pm): |
|
Night
(8pm - 7am): |
| Ambient
Temp: |
82 - 84 degrees |
|
80 -
82 degrees |
| Heat
Tape Temp: |
94 degrees |
|
88
degrees |
|
Humidity: |
60% |
|
60% |
| Lights: |
on |
|
off |
|
|
November |
Starting the first of the month, I
begin placing males into females cages. I normally like to
pair one male with up to five girls. He spends two days in a
cage and then moves onto the next one. On feeding day, I
separate him from his females (unless he's locked up) and
attempt to feed him. Whether he eats or not, I give him two
days off and then continue rotating him through females. (If
the male is locked up on his first day with the female, I'll
move him on to the next girl as soon as he separates). I
record all observed copulations on each snakes record card In November, the days get a little shorter and the temps a
little lower.
|
Day (7am - 7pm): |
|
Night
(7pm - 7am): |
| Ambient
Temp: |
80 - 82 degrees |
|
78 -
80 degrees |
| Heat
Tape Temp: |
94 degrees |
|
85
degrees |
|
Humidity: |
60% |
|
60% |
| Lights: |
on |
|
off |
|
|
December |
Still dropping temps
in December, shorter days and cooler nights.
Males continue to rotate through females. At some point
during the month (usually around the holidays) I like to
give everyone 7 - 10 days off for a good long rest. Breeding
is typically very strong when they're paired up again after
this rest period.
|
Day (8am - 7pm): |
|
Night
(7pm - 8am): |
| Ambient
Temp: |
80 - 82 degrees |
|
76 -
78 degrees |
| Heat
Tape Temp: |
94 degrees |
|
84
degrees |
|
Humidity: |
60% |
|
60% |
| Lights: |
on |
|
off |
|
|
January |
January is a great month for
observing copulations! I like to think of January as my "key
month" for getting it done! This month is also the "bottom"
as far as dropping temps and light go. Typically in January,
I'll even skip some feedings to keep moving males through
their females as heavily as possible. I still like to give
another 7-10 day rest period for everyone at some point
during the month. I just feel like the longer rest each
month is a good thing for them.
|
Day (9am - 7pm): |
|
Night
(7pm - 9am): |
| Ambient
Temp: |
80 degrees |
|
75
degrees |
| Heat
Tape Temp: |
94 degrees |
|
83
degrees |
|
Humidity: |
60% |
|
60% |
| Lights: |
on |
|
off |
|
|
February |
In February, I actually don't
touch the temps at all, I just keep plugging the male into
the females he's been breeding with. February is a great
month to start looking for follicles! Time to fire up the
incubator! Don't forget to take a week off!!!
|
Day (9am - 7pm): |
|
Night
(7pm - 9am): |
| Ambient
Temp: |
80 degrees |
|
75
degrees |
| Heat
Tape Temp: |
94 degrees |
|
83
degrees |
|
Humidity: |
60% |
|
60% |
| Lights: |
on |
|
off |
|
| March |
March starts the warm up. Some
years on March 1st, I just bang the temps and day time hours
back to normal. Other years, when I'm trying to get some
late breedings from young males and females to take, I will
start warming gradually during the second week or so. Either
way, by the end of the month, everything is back to normal.
Keep an eye out for ovulations! I record every ovulation
that I catch and track sheds very carefully. I also make
sure the "baby racks" are cleaned and ready to go in March!
|
Day (8am - 7pm): |
|
Night
(7pm - 8am): |
| Ambient
Temp: |
82 degrees |
|
79
degrees |
| Heat
Tape Temp: |
94 degrees |
|
86
degrees |
|
Humidity: |
60% |
|
60% |
| Lights: |
on |
|
off |
|
| April |
Temperatures and light cycles are
all back to normal now. For some projects, I'll keep running
the male in with females, and others are just "done".
Depends on how many copulations I've observed, if the males
and females are proven breeders, etc ... sometimes I just
"know" when a project is done. The eggs usually start
dropping in April.
|
Day (7am - 9pm): |
|
Night
(9pm - 7am): |
| Ambient
Temp: |
82 - 84 degrees |
|
82 -
84 degrees |
| Heat
Tape Temp: |
94 degrees |
|
94
degrees |
|
Humidity: |
60% |
|
60% |
| Lights: |
on |
|
off |
|
| May |
May is checking for eggs and
ovulations! Some males may still be breeding, but typically
everyone is done by now. I've either "hit it" or I didn't!
Girls that have laid eggs are offered one or two smaller
than normal meals to get them back in the swing of things,
and then I feed them like crazy!
|
Day (7am - 9pm): |
|
Night
(9pm - 7am): |
| Ambient
Temp: |
82 - 84 degrees |
|
82 -
84 degrees |
| Heat
Tape Temp: |
94 degrees |
|
94
degrees |
|
Humidity: |
60% |
|
60% |
| Lights: |
on |
|
off |
|
| June |
By June, all of the breeding is
absolutely done! I spend much of the month in the incubator
candling eggs and waiting for babies to hatch. I also start
my planning for the next breeding season!
|
Day (7am - 9pm): |
|
Night
(9pm - 7am): |
| Ambient
Temp: |
82 - 84 degrees |
|
82 -
84 degrees |
| Heat
Tape Temp: |
94 degrees |
|
94
degrees |
|
Humidity: |
60% |
|
60% |
| Lights: |
on |
|
off |
|
| July |
July is all about the babies!!
.... Cleaning, feeding, and cleaning! Still looking for
those last few clutches of eggs and getting ready to start
all over again!
|
Day (7am - 9pm): |
|
Night
(9pm - 7am): |
| Ambient
Temp: |
82 - 84 degrees |
|
82 -
84 degrees |
| Heat
Tape Temp: |
94 degrees |
|
94
degrees |
|
Humidity: |
60% |
|
60% |
| Lights: |
on |
|
off |
|
