Losses in Brumation.

[Zephyr]

Good news. The dekay's ate today. She must've been a little jumpy because she was in shed, but she was a little hesitant at food... I'm crossing my fingers and hoping she'll still eat at the next feeding.
As for the garters... They're going to have to be cooled. Today's feeding day for the babies, so hopefully I can get the one eastern and the butler's to eat.

[Zephyr]

Got an accurate temp from under the stairs. About 60, and I'm sure it drops a little more in the night. Sound okay for a quick cool-down?

[Tori]

This is the first year that I have brumated my snakes (98% garters). So far, I have lost 2. Both were w/c valley garters. All had water tubs large enough to completely submerse in. All have very high humidity, at 85% or higher at times. The temps where they are being kept stay around 44 degrees F. I have to assume that the valleys' still had parasites even after being treated before being brumated. I will be bringing them out of brumation within the next 3 weeks. With luck maybe the number of losses won't increase any.

[Zephyr]

Better news! The female red-sided ate! I'm happy. I've got two boys paired up with her right now... Fingers crossed... The butler's and wandering are down here ready for coolage.

[infernalis]

Better news! The female red-sided ate! I'm happy. I've got two boys paired up with her right now... Fingers crossed... The butler's and wandering are down here ready for coolage.

Good news kyle

[anji1971]

That's great Kyle! Good news is much nicer than what's been going on around here lately!

[Zephyr]

Only problem is I've got babies going off feed... Last year I did a mini brumation with my babies and all but one made it through okay. Do you think I should do that again if they don't eat?

[drache]

if it worked last year, why not?

[adamanteus]

Certainly if you think they're starting to lose weight, do it again.

[charles parenteau]

I put aspen bedding litter in the cage with a large water bowl ,big enough for all garter snake ,garter stay active during hibernation,they go in and out in water so the bedding becomes wet ,the humidity increase,moisture begin ...thats not good ,i change the bedding if necessary...
the water too.
In mid april or early may almost all garter I caught are full mud ,the strippes fade because of the mud ,sometime it need a shed to show the real colour.that means they are submerge or partialy submerge...They need hibernaculum with water in the bottom.what is the humidity in there I dont know???I know its stable...

I think that only healty snake should be in hibernation.in nature only the strongest survive ..Hibernation is a test for them.I think if your snake died during hibernation its because he was ill enough to die but not enough for you to notice something wrong.If many snake died its worst,you probably did mistake...I think its better in cool room with constant temperature rather than in the fridge .