I live in the North East. However, I have my snakes in a temperature controlled building. The temps can stay exactly the same all year round if I wanted to keep them that way. I keep my hog at normal temps and feeding as long as I can. Once the first few adults start to go off feed, that is when I start the rest of them. That can be anywhere between late Oct, and Nov.

The snakes will go off feed naturally to void their systems of any food in their systems before it starts to get cold. Many temperate species will do this.

How do they know when to do it? There are many theories out there. My belief is they get their cues from things other than temperature changes. I believe barometric pressure has a lot to do with it. I think barometric pressure influences a lot of their natural functions including breeding.

What you are seeing is quite normal in captivity. Is this behavior normal in the wild? I would imagine it is to a degree but we are not worried about what the wild ones are doing. We do not need to apply every wild aspect into our husbandry and this might mean going against their natural grain. We need to do what we can to support their captive behaviors. In some instances, what they do in the wild is indeed important to properly maintain their health in captivity but in other instances, what they do in the wild will not help us in their captive care.

Some keepers try to avoid brumation so they can keep their snakes up all year. In my opinion, it is much easier and much less stressful on me and the animals to allow them to do what seems to come naturally. A period of being dormant is natural and healthy. It also helps trigger and better predict ovulation and theoretically promotes higher quality sperm production.

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