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"Temperature & Temper"

EtR_Bliss

EtR_Bliss

Hatchling
Okay... I have purchased a book at the pet store and I have a question about what I read. I am going to quote the whole 2 paragraphs from the book. What I am asking of you guys is to tell me what you guys think. If this could be possibly true or not, and any experiences you've had, any opinions, etc...

Title of book: Corn & Rat Snakes
Author: Philip Purser
Page: 77 (at top)
(ISBN 0-7938-2880-5)

"Over the past two decades, I've noticed a definite trend in the temperature at which my corn snake eggs incubate, and the temper of the emerging offspring. If incubated at temperatures toward the low end of the acceptable spectrum (79*F to 86*F [26.1* - 30*C] is the spectrum), the young tend to be more mild mannered, calmer, more likely to feed without problems, and easier to handle. This "benevolent range" of temperature is 79* to 82*F (26.1* - 27.8*C)
When eggs are incubated at the high end of the acceptable range, the emerging young are prone to bite, reluctant to feed, ill mannered, and are more difficult to handle as they mature into adulthood. These individuals were incubated at 83* to 86*F (27.8* - 30*C) and hatched two to three weeks earlier than their counterparts. At adulthood, these corn snakes also tend to have similar egg clutches, and they do not attain the same body weights as those individuals that incubated at lower temperatures."

I would appreciate any opinions on this :)
Thanks ;)
 
It's certainly an interesting observation.

I tend to incubate in the low 80s, and people usually remark on how laid-back my hatchlings are. I've produced the odd raving nutjob in my time, but overall they've been nippy the first couple of times I pick them up and are fine from then on.

It'll be interesting to hear from those who go for the higher end of the range.
 
This is like crack for me on the forum. I love when new ideas and observations come up that I haven't yet read about.

Thanks for the post. Looking forward to reading what experiences people have had. If this observation is similar to others I wonder if it is true for all collubrids, snakes, or reptiles.
 
We incubated a clutch at 76-77 last year, as low as we could stand, in order to make sure their hatch date was after our holiday (didn't want them hatchling while we were away).

Without exception they are the nastiest hatchlings I've ever known. They were however a dream to feed, with every single one taking unscented defrost from the get-go.
 
Interesting stuff. I wonder then if it might be linked to both the top AND bottom ends of the incubating temp range?
 
:poke: a real thinker huh? :)

Those are some interesting observations... Maybe the "allowed" temperature should be narrowed a little more towards that lower end...

Maybe if you go too low on the lower end, or too high (even if it's still the allowed temp) maybe it affects them by being slightly uncomfortable while incubating, resulting in some very crabby snakes :shrugs: :roflmao: lol

I really hope this discussion picks up some, and we would get a large number of different observations and experiences on here :licklips:
 
Interesting... This is one of those things (IF it's accurate), that needs to be tested by a fairly large breeder who can do several different test groups. You would also need to incubate half each clutch at a low temp and half at a high temp, to prove that temperament isn't being affected by genetics as opposed to temperature.
 
Aren't "hot female" geckos (those incubated at a high temperature) known for being aggressive and less fertile?
 
Does anyone have any experience with incubation temps affecting anything else other than fertility and aggression? Like with some herp, could it also effect the sex of the offspring?
 
Jcapicy said:
Does anyone have any experience with incubation temps affecting anything else other than fertility and aggression? Like with some herp, could it also effect the sex of the offspring?
Click to expand...

Leopard Geckos have temperature sex selection.
 
Jrgh17 Quote:
Originally Posted by Jcapicy
Does anyone have any experience with incubation temps affecting anything else other than fertility and aggression? Like with some herp, could it also effect the sex of the offspring?

Leopard Geckos have temperature sex selection
Click to expand...

So do many species of Tortoise
 
I thought as much. I wonder if this could also have a similar effect in snakes.

I have had a few corns in my day and the females always seem to be far more docile than the males. It is likely this is just my experience but would be interesting if the temperature effected temperment was related to the sex as well or if the sex could have something to do with the temperment instead....hmmmm
 
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