Is It Nessicary To Cycle Boas

[Slash]

8) Ok, here's the deal, I ask one breeder and 'he' sez yes, then I ask another and 'he' sez no...  My brain tells me they're close to the equator so the day/night cycle is pretty much 12/12 hours year around, does this mean the temp would be too?  Other than just putting them together and keeping them healthy what is crucial in getting them to breed?  My snakes DONT get sick, I dont allow it, so I know my year around 'husbandry' is good.  They have good weight,..  and a male i wasnt planning on breeding until next year is 'putting the moves' on this old female I just happened to be keeping together....  is this my proof that cycling is not nessicary??   Also, is their anything I can do, after they breed, that would help the 'fertility process' (for lack of a better term) to get the maximum amount of babies, and minimal amount of still born babies and slugs?  Any info would be golden... thanx

[Craig_T]

Hey Slash, I am no expert and this has been my first season breeding Boas so I had many questions about the whole process. I am in contact with many other small breeders and most do cycle thier boas. I tried to split the difference between traditional cooling and the way Jeff recommends, I lowered temps to about 75 and still raised them during the day to 85.  I didnt want to take any chances getting resp.problems. I also fed the boas small meals sporadically, males and females. And out of 5 breeding pairs three have taken so far.
My point is that from what I experienced this year it doesnt make that big of a difference. If your animals are sexually mature, well cared for and properly sexed it will hapen! Not really that complicated or maybeI just got lucky this year? I guess I will find out next year! LoL!

[redtailboas]

From a BCI standpoint, there are many different solutions that seem to work very well.

I do not cycle or "brumate" my BCI's in the true sense of the cooling period, but I do lower the heat at night during the breeding season, and raise it to normal during the day.  I think that the process of taking them off feed and the natural barometric changes in the environment with the day/night temp changes are enough to kick start them into action.

Other than that all my boas are maintained at constant temps year round.

I leave the BCC's to more advanced breeders.

[Jonathan_Brady]

how abouty from a BCC standpoint? very curious b/c i'm getting into the guyana rtb's and i will need to know as much as possible for my breeding attempts in a few years.
thanks,
jonathan

[Slash]

8) Mkay... I reckon I'll just do a 50/50 experiment and do one pair one way, and another the other way... then switch the husbandry on'em the next time around and see which add's up better stat's wise.... Thanx for the info, n' best of luck with ya'lls boas