Losses in Brumation.

[Stefan-A]

Well... Assuming that garters in captivity are the only ones with access to "bowls of water" how would species brumating away from water sources soak?

I suppose they wouldn't.

[Zephyr]

I suppose they wouldn't.

So then they'd be relying strictly on environmental humidity... Hmm.

[Stefan-A]

So then they'd be relying strictly on environmental humidity... Hmm.

Those that don't brumate in places where water gathers. Underground the humidity would still probably be close to 100% (<-- Note: figure pulled out of arse. Read very, very high humidity.)

[Loren]

yeah, from what i understand, many burrows, even in some desert climates, hold very high humidity.

[adamanteus]

I think we're getting close to something here, guys. Maybe next year I'll brumate some 'test snakes' at various (well recorded) humidity levels, from very dry to very moist.... see what I can learn.

[Zephyr]

Those that don't brumate in places where water gathers. Underground the humidity would still probably be close to 100% (<-- Note: figure pulled out of arse. Read very, very high humidity.)

lol
Arse.
So I guess we've found one of the main problems to be ambient humidity.
What about resp. infections?

[Loren]

i dunno much about resp. infections.

By the way- i should point out that although i have brumated many snakes, i have never brumated a garter.

[adamanteus]

What about resp. infections?

Time for me to pull something out of my arse......
Isn't the risk of any type of infection greatly reduced at very low temperatures?

[Stefan-A]

I think we're getting close to something here, guys. Maybe next year I'll brumate some 'test snakes' at various (well recorded) humidity levels, from very dry to very moist.... see what I can learn.

Do it properly, with multiple groups per humidity level and multiple snakes per group. Document everything in detail and publish it as a scientific paper. I think it was a minimum of three individuals per group and a minimum of three groups per experiment. Anything less than that and you wouldn't get enough information for a reliable statistical analysis. We used 5*3*3 in our marine isopod experiment.

If I had 27 garters (assuming that you'd be testing 3 different humidity levels) of the same species, I'd do it myself.

[Stefan-A]

lol
Arse.

Yes, unfortunately we cannot say the word that Bender uses the most. It comes out like this: ***.