>>I've never brumated my cornsnakes (my females aren't big enough to breed yet), but I have read that you shouldn't let the temp get below 50 degrees. ...



I do brumate mine, even little babies, and I don't aim for mid-50's temps. At that level, the snakes are only being cooled, they aren't being brumated.



>>You want the temps to be between 50 and 60, with the ideal temp being 55.



I always take mine well below 50. This hasn't resulted in me losing any more than if they were at higher temp. It does ensure that they become so inactive that they lose little or no weight while they're brumating. They warmer they are, the more active they'll be, and the more weight they'll lose.



The only animals that I've ever lost in brumation, were a couple of very small non-feeder hatchlings that would have died whether they were brumated or not.



I've also read of breeders that take their animals down to just a couple of degrees above freezing, and have no problems with it. Of course, it is entirely up to each of us to decide for ourselves how low to go with it, but in my opinion, lower temps are preferable.
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tricia

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