Posted by:
DMong
at Sun Dec 6 13:51:00 2009 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by DMong ]
"Personally, I would not brumate (hibernate) a neonate, and any weight loss in such a young snake is not good. I would warm the neonates back up, and keep warm and feeding through the winter"
Yeah, I agree with all that too. Now, I don't know if dione are like some other types of snakes, and some decide to go off feed and brumate regardless of temps as many other taxon do, as the shorter photo-period can do, regardless of temps if they can see a natural light source from a window, etc.... Hatchlings are generally a little better about continued feeding through the winter months than some sexual adults.
But yes, if the juveniles will go along with the feeding program, I would certainly continue to feed them throughout the winter and brumate them next year, but otherwise, this might be a problem if they should refuse.
Where I live in Florida, I usually can keep feeding snakes if I want too. But some stuff as you know can be pretty geographically different from one another, as well as certain individuals. You know more anout the dione personally than I do of course, but I'm just stating this from tons of other experiences through the many years.
Bottom line is, I hope the little guys do well whichever way works out this year for them..LOL!
~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing" 
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RE: Maximum weight loss during hibernation - DMong, Sun Dec 6 13:51:00 2009