Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have done a few cursory searches and haven't seen this topic come up much. I was wondering if anyone had any nifty do-it-yourself solutions to cooling colubrids in the warmer climes (or off season). I know some use wine coolers and the like, but is there maybe a way to rig a homemade swamp cooler? Alter a fridge to not get quite so cold? Use an A/C? What has been tried and what works best?

Thanks,
nate.

Get one of those large coolers from WalMart. You know, the big white ones by igloo or something. They run around $60. -$70. dollars. Put some ice in it and keep them cool for at least two weeks. Then take them out and put them in the coolest or darkest part of the snakeroom you can find. I prefer closets. I have a had a lot of luck brumationg rosy boas in warm climate by just keeping them in complete darkness for 2-3 months. Darkness can trigger the results you want as well as temperature. At least in my experience.

yes, I agree. except for the mountain kingsnakes which trully need the temp drop also.

I've seen mini-beer-fridges used also.
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1 Eastern Blue Tongue Skink
2 Tarahumara Mountain Kingsnakes - Knoblochi
1 Thayer's Kingsnake - Thayeri
2 Golden Greek Tortoises
1 Pyxie Frog - 14 years old

Thank you both. I was thinking about the beer fridge, but I don't need it quite that cold, and have had good luck with most of my breeders in warmer cooldowns in the dark, so that definitely affirms my thoughts. I have a whole slew of colubrids who I didn't feel quite comfortable cooling last fall, but now are more than ready and I would rather not wait until next winter. Thanks a bunch. This also helps me stagger them a bit.

nate.