Posted by:
FR
at Mon Dec 3 09:17:38 2012 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by FR ]
Of course its normal if the temps drop below what can sustain their feeding and digesting food, they will stop feeding. They are reptiles.
If you want them to feed, add heat. If not wait until it gets warmer.
None of that has to do with whats natural. As keeping them in a box is not natural. Not judging, its what we do. But still, that box has nothing to do with nature, nor does the temps in your house.
What is natural depends on where they would have been hatched. Some areas have heat to support neonates year around, others don't. Some years can support year around activity, other years don't. That is natural.
Part of being natural is the snakes learning to find areas that have more heat then others, then using those areas to extend the active period as long as they can.
Two days ago, I found a neonate hognose that had a large food bolus(lizard) It was aprox 45F where it was, the night time temps were right at 32F, and it was moving to heat so it could digest its bolus. A few days before that, I observed a medium sized coachwhip with a huge and I mean huge food bolus. It was doing the same as the hog, seeking heat.
I friend of mine that lives on Staten Island, NY. when made aware that snakes can be active year around, started looking in the winter and sees several species out and basking year around.
Again, you have control over captives, so you can support them anyway you want. I am just not sure nature has much to do with it. Being a reptile does, if they cannot find heat, they shut down. Best wishes Cheers
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RE: Advice on eastern black kings - FR, Mon Dec 3 09:17:38 2012