im new here. wanna help?

[ssssnakeluvr]

to brumate them, you need to not feed them at all for 2 weeks. then set up a clean cage with a water dish. most people cool them down slowly...dropping temps over a week or so. then you put the snake and cage in a dark cool place..garage, basement, or cool spot....temps need to generally in the low 50's to upper 40's. if its in the 60's, they won't brumate...they are very cold tolerant, I have found garters out and about with temps in the 60's. leave the snake down for 3-4 weeks. check on him or her weekly for weight loss and condensation in the cage. clean the cage and dry it out if there is condensation...can cause skin problems. after the 4 weeks, start warming them up over a week or so. give him a couple days to a week before he starts eating. the cool down should stimulate the feeding.

[drache]

if you think your garage is too cold, you can always add a touch of heat
I have this sunporch that's almost as cold as the outside and I add tons of extra insulation to my brumation tanks
I have a small heater with a thermostat that kicks in when the temps sink below 45ºF
I drape space blankets over the whole thing, so I don't waste the heat
a bit makeshift, but it works really well

[Squeaky10199]

so i could just put it in the garage which would be warmer inside than outside by like ten degrees or so and put blankets over the cage? how do i make the brumation tank? dont you need leaf litter and substrate? and a water bowl? or could i just have substrate in their because he burrows alot.. what i am going to do is decrease the light for a week. he hasent eaten in like two months so i dont have to worry about that. i have no warmth on him at the moment so the temps decrease then i will put him downstairs where it is a bit cooler than upstairs. then i will put him in the garage. this will be 5-7 days apart. to get used to it. does that sound ok? any advice is good. thanks for the help by the way.

[drache]

you can cool him down faster to save some time
do give him water and something to burrow in - it doesn't have to be leaf litter
it could be shredded paper or care fresh or . . .
make sure you check the temps of your brumation tank when surrounding temps become extreme

[Squeaky10199]

ok. well i put him in my basement which is like ten degrees cooler from upstiairs and in about 5 days i will put him in the garage. how long should i keep him i8nthe garage? about a month right? will he breed then? if i get a female?

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

yes a month is good to get feeding, if you get a female u need to brumate her too, they might breed after 1 month but 2-3 months is better if you want them to breed

ok. well i put him in my basement which is like ten degrees cooler from upstiairs and in about 5 days i will put him in the garage. how long should i keep him i8nthe garage? about a month right? will he breed then? if i get a female?

[Squeaky10199]

oh ok thank you for the help.