hibernating?

[nicolelove]

I just got my 1st baby garter a few months ago. and i had a question about when they start to hibernate. when do they start to do it? and what should i do to help them? i no nothing about this so the more info you give me i will appreciate :) thank you.
-Haley-

[snakehill]

I believe they Brumate. Steve?

[Didymus20X6]

Late fall, early winter. Basically, when the ambient temperature starts to go down to around 50F.

Check out this section of the care sheet: Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet#Brumation)

[RedSidedSPR]

If he's a baby, you probably won't have to in his first year.

[Didymus20X6]

You don't really have to bruminate garters at all, unless you're trying to coax them into breeding. Or if they simply decide to stop eating on their own.

If you prefer not to bruminate your snake, you can always keep the ambient temperature high, between 70F and 85F.

[Starling96]

Some Notes:
Make sure they are not skinny and in good health. (there are exceptions such as ones that wont eat)
"!!!!!I would not recommend brumating anything smaller than 16 inches for the purpose of breeding because they are more likely to die!!!!!"
Brumating is a natural part of a snakes life and some people feel that you should do it even if you are not breeding or it does not go off food
[edit]

[kibakiba]

You do not need to brumate them unless they are wanting to, like going off feed and only in late fall or winter..

[guidofatherof5]

If he's a baby, you probably won't have to in his first year.


You don't really have to bruminate garters at all, unless you're trying to coax them into breeding. Or if they simply decide to stop eating on their own.

If you prefer not to bruminate your snake, you can always keep the ambient temperature high, between 70F and 85F.


Some Notes:
Make sure they are not skinny and in good health. (there are exceptions such as ones that wont eat)
"!!!!!I would not recommend brumating anything smaller than 16 inches for the purpose of breeding because they are more likely to die!!!!!"
Brumating is a natural part of a snakes life and some people feel that you should do it even if you are not breeding or it does not go off food
[edit]


You do not need to brumate them unless they are wanting to, like going off feed and only in late fall or winter..

All sound advice.

I personally wouldn't worry about it.
Babies need to have as much time as possible to put on size.
I think that first Winter of life is the hardest for and on the babies. Those little ones that don't have the fat stores to make it or choose a bad location. I bet the mortality rate is high. Just getting to the brumation time is difficult enough. Running the gauntlet of predators. It's tough when your happy meal size.
I don't brumate any snakes unless I want to breed them the following Spring.
I never brumate babies.

[ConcinusMan]

Just keep your snake at temperatures as if it were summer and he won't need to brumate, and will just continue to grow and feed like normal. I wouldn't brumate him at all. Besides, it takes cold temps to get them fully brumating. Like, around 50 degrees.

It's not necessary. They only do it as a survival tactic because it's too cold outside to move well or digest anything. FYI, approximately 85% of baby garters die during their first winter brumation and about half of what's left dies each winter thereafter. Depending on the conditions, of course.