Burmation?

[hissy100]

Hey my Snakes haven't eaten for a week and a half, are they getting ready to burmate, if so tell me how to burmate them, if not please give me some other suggestions.

[ssssnakeluvr]

some garters go off feed around this time of the year. if they refuse food for another week then they will be ready for brumation. gotta make sure they are off feed for at least 2 weeks as undigested food will ferment and kill the snakes. you can put them in a cage with a water bowl and hide box. put them in a cool place, i put mine in the garage. make sure the temps are in the 50's or 40's. any warmer they won't brumate, colder could cause problems too. leave them down for a month or 2 and check on them weekly, change the water, and watch for weight loss. small amounts of weight loss is normal, but if they are losing a lot, to the point you see skin flaps on their side, they will need to be brought out and fed. most people that breed put them down for 3 months. my smaller ones and adults that aren't gonna be bred that go off feed are brumated for a month and brought out. that usually will get them eating.

[anji1971]

Hey, Don,
Do you have to do this with garters? I've always just fed mine a bit less often during the winter and so far they've been okay, but this brumation stuff is new to me. Am I doing something wrong??????

[ssssnakeluvr]

no..brumation is the winter hibernation thing....if you aren't breeding them, they will be fine. just keep them warm and feed them If you are going to breed them, they will need to be brumated. i have to brumate non feeders sometimes....some of them will go off feed this time of the year. if i'm not planning on them breeding i brumate them for a month and bring them back out...helps kick in the appetite.

[anji1971]

Whew! thanks for the reassurance!
Had no idea what i would have done if you'd said they did need it, since i have no place that cool anywhere in my house. Guess i would have had to ask the neighbours to borrow their garage for the winter!!!!!!

[ssssnakeluvr]

your welcome!!!!

[zooplan]

you don´t have a frigde in your house?
Thats what I have to use because even the celllar is never cooler than 60°F

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

that works??

you don´t have a frigde in your house?
Thats what I have to use because even the celllar is never cooler than 60°F

[zooplan]

I´m not the only one who burmate his snakes in a refrigerator
You have to look for the frequently and open the door for fresh air minimum once a week.

[anji1971]

Well i do have a fridge, but it's pretty full of food most of the time!!!!!! I can just see my mother-in-law coming over and going in looking for something only to find it's become a snake den!
However, it is good to know that works!