Dean &Phil, a couple of observations regarding winter temps

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Indigo Snake Forum ]

Posted by Fred Albury on April 04, 2002 at 13:12:55:

In Reply to: thanks for sharing, great data, but... posted by Dean Alessandrini on April 04, 2002 at 07:39:15:

: The one key factor that seems to be missing here is dead winter temps. The data here is spring, summer and fall, but no winter data.

: I only subject my indigos to the temps in the upper 50's in the late fall and winter, when nightime drops in Florida are going down into the 40's.

: It would make sense that the burrow temps would remain over 70 during the rest of the year...but I'm not at all (yet) convinced that they do not drop far below that in the winter when it's cold over long periods in Florida. Where would the heat come from?

: Dean A.

Dean/Phil,

I read with interest your comments about the nightime temp drops in Florida dureing the dead of winter being 40 degrees. I also fully understand that the ambient temperature in the air that is contained in the burrows being 70 degrees. Heres an observation I have made over the last 10 years: Eastern Indigos do not do well at low temps dureing a mid winter "drop" period. I know of one breeder who cooled his Eastern pair(4 yrd olds) off to a 50 degrees nightime low on the basis of the winters in Florida being so cold. Long story short, his female dropped dead of an R.I.infection while in brumation and he pulled the male out.I bought the male and have him to this very day.He has never been exposed to a drop in temp as low as that since.
I am a firm beleiver in NOT dropping these snakes down past 70 degrees, no matter what time of year. Frank Retes had a theory that cycling monitors didnt matter, they they still breed and reproduced just fine, despite tha lack of thermal cycleing, and not because of it. I tend to agree with him, Eastern Indigos breed and seem to reproduce just fine in captivity without exposeing them to even moderately cold temperatures, irregardless of what their wild conegers have to endure. And it makes sense if you factor the added risk captive specimens are exposed to at the lower temps.
In all the time I have kept and bred these snakes I have found that this method worked for me with a good degree of success.

Thanks,

Fred

Follow Ups:

more thoughts Fred... Dean Alessandrini 04/04/02 (14)
- Photoperiod... Dr. Phil 04/04/02 (2)
  - reasons for artificial light Dean Alessandrini 04/04/02 (1)
    - Makes perfect sense...n/p Dr. Phil 04/04/02 (0)
- The "Big secret" is......there is no secret at all! :) Fred Albury 04/04/02 (3)
  - Barometric pressure Dr. Phil 04/04/02 (2)
    - Doc, yours breed regardless of conditions? Fred Albury 04/04/02 (1)
      - That's right... Dr. Phil 04/04/02 (0)
- It ain't broke, but... Dr. Phil 04/04/02 (6)
  - Doc, please read................. Fred Albury (Aztec Reptiles) 04/04/02 (5)
    - So, what IS your room temp??? Dr. Phil 04/04/02 (4)
      - Room temp is 72,Hot spot in cage is 82................ Fred Albury 04/04/02 (3)
        
        Not only does it answer my question,.... Dr. Phil 04/04/02 (0)
        
        Cages are 4 ft, 5 ft, and 6 ft Vision cages................. Fred Albury 04/04/02 (1)
        
        housing... Dr. Phil 04/04/02 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: : The one key factor that seems to be missing here is dead winter temps. The data here is spring, summer and fall, but no winter data. : : I only subject my indigos to the temps in the upper 50's in the late fall and winter, when nightime drops in Florida are going down into the 40's. : : It would make sense that the burrow temps would remain over 70 during the rest of the year...but I'm not at all (yet) convinced that they do not drop far below that in the winter when it's cold over long periods in Florida. Where would the heat come from? : : Dean A. : : Dean/Phil, : I read with interest your comments about the nightime temp drops in Florida dureing the dead of winter being 40 degrees. I also fully understand that the ambient temperature in the air that is contained in the burrows being 70 degrees. Heres an observation I have made over the last 10 years: Eastern Indigos do not do well at low temps dureing a mid winter "drop" period. I know of one breeder who cooled his Eastern pair(4 yrd olds) off to a 50 degrees nightime low on the basis of the winters in Florida being so cold. Long story short, his female dropped dead of an R.I.infection while in brumation and he pulled the male out.I bought the male and have him to this very day.He has never been exposed to a drop in temp as low as that since. : I am a firm beleiver in NOT dropping these snakes down past 70 degrees, no matter what time of year. Frank Retes had a theory that cycling monitors didnt matter, they they still breed and reproduced just fine, despite tha lack of thermal cycleing, and not because of it. I tend to agree with him, Eastern Indigos breed and seem to reproduce just fine in captivity without exposeing them to even moderately cold temperatures, irregardless of what their wild conegers have to endure. And it makes sense if you factor the added risk captive specimens are exposed to at the lower temps. : In all the time I have kept and bred these snakes I have found that this method worked for me with a good degree of success. : Thanks, : Fred

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Indigo Snake Forum ]

KINGSNAKE.COM

Enjoy all our content free of charge with a user account that gives you full access to every feature. For added visibility, paid options are available - post in our Classifieds, showcase your business with Banner Ads or a Directory listing, promote reptile events, and more.

Dean &Phil, a couple of observations regarding winter temps

KINGSNAKE.COM

Quick Links

Community

Legal & Safety

Support