Cooling down one's snakes for breeding..

[althena]

Just a few quick questions. (Specifically, I'd like to know about Kenyan sand boas, but any type of snake would be more than helpful.)

Last year my male Kenyan was ready to breed (and trying to mate anything in sight) but I didn't cool him at all. In fact, I thought he was still way too young!!

So:
1) Do you even cool your boids for breeding?

2) How do you go about doing it? (I've heard of people putting them in a garage, or just turning off all the heating implements, etc.)

3) When do you start the cooling,

and

4) when do you take them out of cooling and put the male and female(s) together?

thank you so much.

[tai_pan1]

I know corns will breed without cooling, but have better hatch rates if they are cooled. Sorry, don't know about boas. Check the internet. Do a search on Kenyan sand boas and I'm sure you'll find what you need.

Mike

[Invictus]

Kenyan sand boas will often breed readily without a cooling period. In fact, they have been known to breed at almost any point throughout the year. They're great that way.

[enso]

This article is for colubrid snakes but it's a good read nonetheless.
There is a detailed section on brumation (cooling).
http://www.applegatereptiles.com/articles/history.htm

[Jeff_Favelle]

Breeding does not necessarily result in the female ovulating. TRy breeding Ball Pythons and you'll know what I'm talking about.

[althena]

Thanks, everyone.

[Piers]

cooling snakes for breeding is good. A lot of people will say you don't have. Cooling them triggers the males to produce viable sperm and the females to ovulate. It also gives the snakes a brake from feeding and having to digest. Yes eating is a little stressful. Also I've noticed some of my snakes go off feed anyway, almost giving themselves a brake.
As for the cooling of sand boas a daytime of 78-82 and nighttime of 68-72 would be fine, I've gone down as low as 65 nights and 72 days with no ill affects and 100% sucsess with breeding. cool them for a few months, winter is best because its just easyer.
piers

[althena]

Thank you.

I bought these snakes from a very nice breeder and the two het for albinos breed everyear. (well, for the past two years since they've been old enough.) The male stops eating but the female keeps on pounding them down.

Thanks again. I hope I don't mess something up and end up with no baby Kenyan sand boas.