>>Thanks for the reply Toby. I just saw it, so I guess we were both late in replies. I actually brumated my situla pair in a similar way, minus the heat tape and feeding. The winter temps. here in SW LA are probably similar to yours in south TX. I simply brumate all my snakes by moving them to a small extra room in my house. I close the air/heat vents and open the single window about half way and close the door. I also close the blinds, but enough light gets in so there is a natural photo period. I haven't bred a lot of snakes yet as most are not quite large enough yet. Besides the situla this method has worked well for corn snakes, everglades rats, speckled kings,and bairdi.
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>>Matt Kauffman

Your method of brumation is the same I have used for my corns, meahllmorum, and bairdi, for years. I have been cooling most of my Old World ratsnakes, including the situla, in a refrigerator - for at least the last three years. This has worked well for my Chinese Beauties and Diones, but I still have yet to get a good clutch of eggs from my Twin-spotteds and situla. Schulz recomends a long, cold brumation of something like 3 - 4 months at 50 degrees F, I think. This is what I have strived to give them, but maybe I will try them in my subtropical New World ratsnake brumation.

Also, another factor which may make some difference between our situla, is locality of origin. Schulz and other authors have said that situla from Greece are probably the easiest to keep. Mine are descended from Croatian animals - so may be a bit more difficult to keep, or more particular about their conditions. Just some thoughts...
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-Toby Brock
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

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