Update on the young San Francisco garter snakes...

[SilasBannook]

The comment by Thamnophis above that the substrate has to be wet is the first time I recall seeing that relative to considerations for brumation. In general I understood that garters needed dry bedding and I just suspected they needed a regularly changed water bowl during brumation. Have I just missed that point in how to prepare your snakes for brumation. Appreciate the expanded feedback.

[BUSHSNAKE]

Its a common method for brumating Thamnophis in Europe

[guidofatherof5]

I find the snakes I brumate spend a lot of time in the water dish.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

When they are wet they'll loose more heat and colder they are in brumation the less fat reserves are used and the greater their chances of surviving the winter.Correct?Or is there other reasoning for brumating with damp substrate?

[Thamnophis]

A number of years ago I brumated my garter snakes drier then I do nowadays.
What I noticed was that when I brumated drier, the snakes lost more weight than when I brumate in wet substrate. In some cases snakes gained weight during the brumation (1, 2, 3 or 4 grams on snakes that weigh between 50 and 100 grams). The only reason for this is absorbing water. This can be that they drink from the drops on the lid of the box or maybe the moist air they inhale. I do not know what the real reason is.
Snakes that are brumated in "dry" substrate often lay in the water bowl. Why? They need moisture.

In the terrarium, in which the snakes live, a wet substrate is not good. But a wet substrate in the brumation box is ok. All my snakes are healthy at the end of the brumation. No losses up to now...

[chris-uk]

Some good brumation tips. And the proof of the pudding has got to be zero losses during brumation since using damp substrate.
What substrate do you use? I'd have thought something like sphagnum moss which resists mould would be good, or cocohusk which naturally retains more moisture.

[SilasBannook]

Great information guys. I didn't pick up the importance of water out of prior brumation threads. Thanks.

[guidofatherof5]

Great information guys. I didn't pick up the importance of water out of prior brumation threads. Thanks.

I think much is trial and error and personal preference.

[BUSHSNAKE]

Some good brumation tips. And the proof of the pudding has got to be zero losses during brumation since using damp substrate.
What substrate do you use? I'd have thought something like sphagnum moss which resists mould would be good, or cocohusk which naturally retains more moisture.

i was thinking of using spagnum myself but i think it would mold but i think this year im gonna try straight peat moss which is what people used before cocohusk came out

[Greg'sGarters]

Very nice snakes!!!