Egg Incubators/Size question/Brumation

[Jordan G]

Well, I've just finished reading the breeding section in my corn snake manual(for the first time anyway.) and I've been putting some thought into what I will use for an incubator.. I was wondering if I could have some volunteers explain what they're using, what temps(I've got a general idea I just want to see what you guys use most of the time), what substrate, what container, etc.. And if you'd be kind enough to post some pictures.....


I also have a question about size... The snake I have right now is a rather heft fellow... I believe it's a male but I have to get s/he probed.. I don't know his weight(at the moment) but would it be a problem to have a rather hefty guy with a smaller female? AKA should I look for a mate thats his/her size? I'll show a pic so you can know what I mean when I call him a big boy like that! (I'm about 5'9" in this picture.)


Aaaalso... It's sort of hard to create brumation at my apartment.. probably the lowest I could drop them is to 70-75 degrees, do you think it would be beneficial to go through the whole brumation process with this high of temps or would it ruin the whole point?

Thanks very much..

 

[Jordan G]

Well, I've just finished reading the breeding section in my corn snake manual(for the first time anyway.) and I've been putting some thought into what I will use for an incubator.. I was wondering if I could have some volunteers explain what they're using, what temps(I've got a general idea I just want to see what you guys use most of the time), what substrate, what container, etc.. And if you'd be kind enough to post some pictures.....


I also have a question about size... The snake I have right now is a rather heft fellow... I believe it's a male but I have to get s/he probed.. I don't know his weight(at the moment) but would it be a problem to have a rather hefty guy with a smaller female? AKA should I look for a mate thats his/her size? I'll show a pic so you can know what I mean when I call him a big boy like that! (I'm about 5'9" in this picture.)


Aaaalso... It's sort of hard to create brumation at my apartment.. probably the lowest I could drop them is to 70-75 degrees, do you think it would be beneficial to go through the whole brumation process with this high of temps or would it ruin the whole point?

Thanks very much..

Oh! I forgot to add, if your incubator is home made, what are you using to heat it?(if anything)

 

[Jevard]

its not always necesary to hybernate your snakes b4 breeding ( sometimes its needed though)so you may get successfull breed withught doing it as for incubators ill let someone whos built them explain

 

[Jordan G]

its not always necesary to hybernate your snakes b4 breeding ( sometimes its needed though)so you may get successfull breed withught doing it as for incubators ill let someone whos built them explain

I understand that, my only point it most people think it is beneficial to brumate prior to breeding, however I cannot reach normal brumation temperatures(easily anyway), I'm no expert but I think the temps I can get won't be low enough and will end up doing more harm then good. But I don't know for sure and thats why I am here.

 

[Jevard]

oh oh yes your actualy right those temps arent low enough to slow the snakes metabolism to what you need. and you wont be able to go withought feeding....if you even get it to start brumation..but i dont know it all so await other input b4 u make your decision

 

[strawberry_bunny]

I havent incubated corn eggs, but i have done beardie eggs. I used a polystyrene box with bowling pushed through for the egg boxes to stand on, and heat mat on the floor, and pulse thermostat and a digital thermometre (I cant spell). I just made sure the lid fitted properly. Erm I think thats it,

 

[Susielea]

Here's a link to a thread that was started a few months ago, on how to make a simple reptile incubator, that you may find useful

http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65141&highlight=incubators

As to brumation, I have never brumated my snakes and have had pretty good success with fertile clutches for the last 3 years. The reason I don't brumate, is because I have nowhere that gets cool enough for long enough and feel it's better not to attempt brumation if I can't do it properly.

Hope that helps a little

 

[Jordan G]

Here's a link to a thread that was started a few months ago, on how to make a simple reptile incubator, that you may find useful

http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65141&highlight=incubators

As to brumation, I have never brumated my snakes and have had pretty good success with fertile clutches for the last 3 years. The reason I don't brumate, is because I have nowhere that gets cool enough for long enough and feel it's better not to attempt brumation if I can't do it properly.

Hope that helps a little

That was very helpful.. My last question stands of if my hefty guy(maybe girl - will find out) would pose a problem pairing him/her with a smaller mate. I do remember reading how males shouldn't be much smaller than your female incase things get a little out of hand, but what about the other way around? Is a small(well, in comparison)female ok with a larger male?

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

I don't think Florida winters get much below 70 degrees:shrugs: I lived in Northern Ca up until 15yrs ago, and never brumated, but I successfully bred every year. I put all my eggs in hovabater incubaters. I make sure to tape all the air holes, this keeps the humidity high. My temp. is 82-83 degrees, and my substrate is vermiculite, and spagnum moss, both of which I get from Big Apple herp. I have a lot of pairings that had a larger (significantly) male mate with females and no problems ever :twoguns:

 

[dwyn127]

You may want to pm blueapplepaste (Matthew). I think I saw a post where he said he brumates by manipulating day/night rather than temperature, he might be able to help you out.

Good luck!

 

[Drizzt80]

Does your apartment have an outside facing wall? Check the temperatures in a cupboard along that outside facing wall if you have them. That's what I use here. Room temp is easily high 60's during the winter months, but the cupboards along that outside wall can get as low as high 40's during the coldest parts of winter here in ND (we get -20 or worse some days of course!).

Personally, I'm a believer in brumating. I also have snakes that I breed that don't get brumated each year. The snakes I don't brumate do tend to be first year breeding snakes, so results for comparing brumating to non-brumating wouldn't be an accurate comparison.

Here's some of what I use and have used for incubating:
http://www.dakotacorns.com/Cages.html

D80

 

[Jordan G]

Does your apartment have an outside facing wall? Check the temperatures in a cupboard along that outside facing wall if you have them. That's what I use here. Room temp is easily high 60's during the winter months, but the cupboards along that outside wall can get as low as high 40's during the coldest parts of winter here in ND (we get -20 or worse some days of course!).

Personally, I'm a believer in brumating. I also have snakes that I breed that don't get brumated each year. The snakes I don't brumate do tend to be first year breeding snakes, so results for comparing brumating to non-brumating wouldn't be an accurate comparison.

Here's some of what I use and have used for incubating:
http://www.dakotacorns.com/Cages.html

D80

Unfortunately the outside facing wall doesn't have any cupboards, nor a place to put my snake during the brumation period. It's the living room lol.:awcrap: Also, the winter's here are quite a bit milder than that - with a heated apartment - I'm still not sure I would reach the temps.

 

[paulh]

I've bred a small female around 3 feet to a larger male around four feet. No problems.

In your position, I'd turn off the heat at night and put the snakes on a 14-16 hour dark, 8-10 hour light cycle. Lowering the temperature 24/7 is nice but not mandatory.

Good luck.