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Hi again Dom,
I belive darkness to be a very important step in breeding Pituophis. Though I will admit, I have yet to do so myself(most of my Pits are still sub adults) I have spoken with many people and here is why. Most North American snakes usualy go into some sorta of den site which is located bellow the freeze line. In these deep, dark crevices little if any sunlight protrudes. Though snakes will bask on above normal temp days at the entrances of these den sites(which if their communal or not for sayai, is beyond me), the majority of their time is spent deep under ground. Suplimenting this in captivity seems to work great for many NA serpents and I would highly recomend it. The "just throwing colubrids thogether thing", may float for Cornsnakes but definately cant be used as the norm for Pituophis.
BTW, im not knocking the cycle way. i personaly do this to prep them for burmation. My whole collection has been getting what the outside proviodes and lately, thats just about at 10 hrs(I use very little eltric lightening for my snakes. Most however are nocturnal so I can get away with it). I would say continue to cycle how your doing, gradually bring em down to your desired temps(over a week and preferable more) and when you feel its time for them to say night night, put them somewhere very dark, draft free and secluded for about 3 months. I would not recomend misting them at all! Remember where they come from, very dry and arid regions. Too much water can cause big problems for Pituophis, anywhere from respitory infection to horrid scale and skin problems from being kept too wet(though I know you wernt planning on soaking them with water).
As for your intended temps, that seems about perfect for sayi! Stay with that and add the darkness thing. I think placeing their cage on the floor, in a dark corner, away from all and any sources of heat in the room would definately keep them at the desired temps. Just truy to keep em away from the vent.
I would also suggest putting them down around Dec 1rst and bringing em back the first week of March, posibly alittle earlier if ya cant wait(I know sometimes I cant) Others do it different but this is the best and most widely used time frame I have seen.
BTW, do not use a fan to cool them down! That can easily cause nuerous health problems, most commonly respitory infection or worse.
Also, my bulls are both regular phase and nothing too spectacular. i personaly dont much like the morphs, preffering the normal phases instead, though I am a hypocrite and do have an interesting albino Northern Pine and 2 hets for albino N pines.
Well bud, again, I hope this helps ya out and all the very best luck in breeding them!
Take care,
J
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