Light and temperature cycle techniques
I would like to begin a thread to share everyones techniques for cycling there drys for breeding. We know that we must take them through a period of cooler, longer nights. But how cool, how long, and for what period of time??? This is my first year at this, but here is what I am doing so far. Please feel free to share the way you do it, and to critique what I am doing.
Each cage has a basking light, on a timer, and thermostat wich is currently on for 15 hours a day. The temp in the hot spot is upper 80s. The other end of the cage is the same as the room temp, 75. The room also has a light on a timer which runs congruently for 15 hours a day. No attempt has been made to black out the windows. The night temp. in the room is 75. So right now, they are on a long day, warm night program, or summer cycle.
In about a month, when the days are shorter yet, and the nights are nice and cold, I will begin to cut back the timers at a rate of 1 half hour every other day until they are at 12 hour schedule. I will continue to cut back the basking lights at the same rate until they are on a six hour schedule. And I will alow the night temps to drop to about 65 degrees.
A week or two after that, I will try an introduction. I think I will keep this regimen for another month during repeated mating introductions. After which time I will begin to raise the temps, and extend the daylight hours back to summer schedule.
So tell me guys, am I even close? And how do you all do it. Thanks,
T.
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