brumation pointers

[Scott E.]

I have read several threads pertaining to brumation. I have been able to decipher that 50ish is the desired temp. Dark, out of the way is the best location. Do I need to do anything special other than make sure the snake's digestive tract is purged? Will they be "dormant"? or will they be just very sluggish? Is there any special type of bedding that I need to provide, i.e. dirt, something insulated from direct cold of glass, etc. I saw that they need water available. Is there a step by step guide available? Thanks for your help!

Scott E.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

they definatly do need water during brumation, ive found mine love to bath in it, you can use whatever substrate u want just make sure the humidity isnt too high, dark is best, and i keep temps a 40-45 ) and about their states... is kinda just like they've slowed down a ton not like they are asleep or anything
http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet
theres a brumation guide in there near the bottom

[ssssnakeluvr]

it's basically a state of decreased metabolic activity...the snakes still move around and some love to soak!!

[Scott E.]

I have the two snakes in a 20gal Long tank now. Is it ok if I brumate them in a 10 gal tank? This is because the male stopped eating quite a while ago, but the female is still eating and I don't know if she is pregnant or holding sperm as I saw them mating a couple of weeks ago, so I need to start getting him down, but the female still seems to be eating, although not with as much entusiasm as she used to. Also, do I need to quit feeding the female or will she just start refusing food on her own? The 10 gal will also be easier to tuck away into a cold corner.

Any suggestions on where to brumate them so that you get the 40-50 deg temps? I know that my garage gets way too cold, and I am sure that my basement only gets down to the lower 60's at best.

Thanks again

Scott E.

[Jack Neary]

I have the two snakes in a 20gal Long tank now. Is it ok if I brumate them in a 10 gal tank? This is because the male stopped eating quite a while ago, but the female is still eating and I don't know if she is pregnant or holding sperm as I saw them mating a couple of weeks ago, so I need to start getting him down, but the female still seems to be eating, although not with as much entusiasm as she used to. Also, do I need to quit feeding the female or will she just start refusing food on her own? The 10 gal will also be easier to tuck away into a cold corner.

Any suggestions on where to brumate them so that you get the 40-50 deg temps? I know that my garage gets way too cold, and I am sure that my basement only gets down to the lower 60's at best.

Thanks again


Scott E.



Scott,
I have the same dilema...
I have my Garter's in my basement and will not be able to get the temps below 65 during the winter months (my wife won't allow me to turn the heat lower as she and my daughter use the computer down there alot...)
I live in Cleveland and my gargage will get down to below or near freezing temps during the winter months, which will be too cold.
Is is possible to brumate our Garter's in 65 degree temps if I were to keep them covered/in the dark? Or will those 60+ temps cause them not to brumate and starve to death?
Would appreciate any advice...
Thanks!
Jack

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

thats a tough one but when ive gone herping ive seen garters out and about at 60-65 like normal so i would say no

Scott,
I have the same dilema...
I have my Garter's in my basement and will not be able to get the temps below 65 during the winter months (my wife won't allow me to turn the heat lower as she and my daughter use the computer down there alot...)
I live in Cleveland and my gargage will get down to below or near freezing temps during the winter months, which will be too cold.
Is is possible to brumate our Garter's in 65 degree temps if I were to keep them covered/in the dark? Or will those 60+ temps cause them not to brumate and starve to death?
Would appreciate any advice...
Thanks!
Jack

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

10 gal is fine, are you brumating the female? and if shes gravid she might refuse food closer to her having babies but continue feeding her normally untill then. And idk what i did is took a thermometer around to each part of my house untill i found a place. one ideas is to cover a fireplace with a few layers of towels open the vent to the outside and put the snake cage in the fire place

I have the two snakes in a 20gal Long tank now. Is it ok if I brumate them in a 10 gal tank? This is because the male stopped eating quite a while ago, but the female is still eating and I don't know if she is pregnant or holding sperm as I saw them mating a couple of weeks ago, so I need to start getting him down, but the female still seems to be eating, although not with as much entusiasm as she used to. Also, do I need to quit feeding the female or will she just start refusing food on her own? The 10 gal will also be easier to tuck away into a cold corner.

Any suggestions on where to brumate them so that you get the 40-50 deg temps? I know that my garage gets way too cold, and I am sure that my basement only gets down to the lower 60's at best.

Thanks again

Scott E.

[ssssnakeluvr]

Scott,
I have the same dilema...
I have my Garter's in my basement and will not be able to get the temps below 65 during the winter months (my wife won't allow me to turn the heat lower as she and my daughter use the computer down there alot...)
I live in Cleveland and my gargage will get down to below or near freezing temps during the winter months, which will be too cold.
Is is possible to brumate our Garter's in 65 degree temps if I were to keep them covered/in the dark? Or will those 60+ temps cause them not to brumate and starve to death?
Would appreciate any advice...
Thanks!
Jack
little too warm to brumate them....have found garters out and about in that weather

[Garter_Gertie]

Kevie, at the risk of his milk spoiling, is going to put his - I believe - in the crisper in his fridge and crank it down to like 45 degrees.

I didn't think o'this then, but I'd think the constant getting in and outta the fridge - the light coming on and off - would drive them nutz. I know it would me.

[crzy_kevo]

actually my crisper stays warmer than the rest of the fridge i have heard of other people doing this too however i will need to get some large tupperware containers to put them while in the fridge and i am debating putting a towel over top of them so that it will stay fairly dark for them

[Garter_Gertie]

Kevie, you're cute! Snakes in the crisper! Cracks me up!

[prattypus]

I think this was broached on another thread, but won't suffication be an issue in a fridge?

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

i brumation2 pairs of garters in a 6 cubic feet fridge and just opened it every 3-4 days and theyll b fine, snakes dont need that much oxygen then can survive a day with the oxygen of a deli cup

I think this was broached on another thread, but won't suffication be an issue in a fridge?