Some adults are prone to mood swings that are often initiated and then exacerbated by keeping the animals at too high temperatures. Water should be made available atall times in a wide mouth dish that is not prone to spilling. Cage conditions should be kept dry. Animals for which breeding is intended should begin brumaiton in late November and end brumation in mid to late February. After the animals are removed from brumation, copulation may begin immediately or may begin anytime over the next 5 weeks.
Females usually breed before their first shed in the spring.
Eggs are laid approximately 45 days after the onset of copulation. Typical clutch sizes range from 5 to 10 eggs. Well fed females are capable of double clutching. Hatchlings are robust and active upon hatching and ususally feed readily on live pink mice following their first shed. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians.