Hibernation?

[Mandi0284]

My snakes have no eaten in quite a while dispite being offered food every other day as normal. Zeus took a large silver side a little over a week ago and Jesse has not shown any interest in anything for over two weeks. She even turned her nose up at live tadpoles!!??

Are they getting ready to hibernate?
Is this normal for garters?
Should I contiune to offer food to them?

[setfree]

I havn't had experience with hibernation yet so I don't know for sure. It sounds like all the right things but they do just go off food some times. I don't know why but they do. keep offering them food even if you don't hibernate them. But make sure you get other opinions.

Good luck!

[thamneil]

Definately a possibility with the season. You can try to wait it out or brumate if youre comfortable with that. Some of mine have gone off as well.

Live tadpoles hey? Great food but they do have a parasite potential. Just be wary of the source.

[Mandi0284]

I have read about doing brumation with our snakes, but not sure how to do it...and not sure if it would be ok for the baby snake....

or if the other two will one day decide to start eating again.

I got the tadpoles from a reptile store that buys them from a breeder. I would have to find out where exactly they get them. Was gonna raise them and then start breeding my own feeder tads.

[Light of Dae]

Feeder guppies are faster to reproduce... Still parasites... Frogs only breed once a year....

You could increase their light cycle to a little longer n see if that gets them outs of winter mood.

Or shorten the light cycle n let it be room temp for a few weeks, not offering food unless they seem active n looking for food(or escape) Pretty much ignore them for this time, just change their water as needed. I'd call this a 'cheater winter' its not true brumation where they get really cool n really lazy... This way worked for my checkered when he went off food for a while on his own.

Call it a nap... not a full out sleep. lol

[thamneil]

A member on here (I believe is was Thamnophis) brumated some of his baby tetrataenia to jump start their appetites. I understand that the circumstances are different, but a short brumatipng could definitely be used if nessecary. I wouldn't do so right away though.

[Mandi0284]

I am breeding my guppies. I have 60 new baby fish to raise. They are so cute.

Should I cover the snake tank?They crawl around a bit, but mostly just stay in one spot. Bitz is more active, but she isn't wanting food. I just tried small nightcrawlers.

[thamneil]

It depends what you're going for. If its a full out brumatipng, most would keep snakes in the dark. I'm with Michelle on this one. Just turn whatever heat light off,mgive them a while to chill(literally!), and slowly warm them back up.

[Invisible Snake]

IMO - I wouldn't do a full brumation with babies unless it is absolutely necessary because they haven't built up enough fat reserves. A cooling period would be more suitable, as recommended by Light of Dae.

[Mandi0284]

ok I will try that and see what happens.