just to get an argument started, is there any need for further heat for garters kept indoors?
i shall start off admitting to having heat mats, but i'm reconsidering this option for all but the baby's
you will have heard me drone on about having garters since Adam was a lad and that there were no reptile equipment suppliers of any note, well my point is that in those days before additional heating i don't seem to remember so many still borns, jelly's etc etc, they were if my memory serves me well, few and far between' and if my observation is valid i also except that this could be for other reasons, inbreeding for instance or the loss of innate vigor that some times happens to wild creatures that are bred in captivity, BUT it just might be for the reasons put forth, i have also mentioned that this is my first time allowing my snakes to breed for some years so i can not put them forward as a scientific sample in any way, in fact one years bad breeding proves nothing at all, but my two Florida blue females threw large numbers of jelly's one throwing a second clutch of them and two other females passing them also, and i just cant help making comparisons with passed experiences, without being able to quote them i have the impression that members are mentioning these kind of things more often in the threads, one that comes to mind is gregs threads on his snakes and his preparations for breeding it has to be said for those that don't know greg that you don't get many more knowledgeable or enthusiastic keepers than him and i followed his reports with interest but in spite of
weight monitoring, temperature gradients, strict observation to dietary needs, scrupulously kept records and so forth the poor man had a disaster of a season, again one incident proves nothing but it leaves me feeling uneasy,....was it really better when the snakes had to rough it [so to speak] or have i just got it out of perspective i think this is a subject worthy of discussion and hope every one will throw in their pennyworth. so i will step nimbly to one side and avoid the impending stampede