Reptile & Amphibian Forums

is this the type of year for them to go off feed. Mine is a wc eastern garter from central VA. He has been a very good feeder and has refused 3 meals now. If this is the case should I go ahead and brumate him or is it too early. I am not breeding him but if he is going off feed for the rest of the season I don't want him losing weight while kept in optimal temps.

My guys are going off feed too. If you brumate, you may want to go ahead and do it. I kept mine at room temp last winter, and offered food every two to three weeks (most of it was refused). When spring came around they started acccepting food again. Mine just burrowed into the aspen on the cool side of their tanks and after a few weeks of refusing meals, I turned off the UTHs. They seemed to hold their weight fine.

-Alice

my garters have gone off feeding too. my question is, should i let them brumate? or is there a way to 'snap them outta it' by turning up the heat, or leaving the UV and heat lamps on longer? (i should mention that i haven't changed the timer on the lights...and that i live in southern california)

i have a male and a female together in one cage. since they've stopped feeding, they rarely leave the hide box on the heated side of the cage even though i have hide boxes on the opposite side, and in the middle. if they are trying to brumate, why are they spending so much time on the heated side of the cage? if heat aides in digestion and whatnot, why are they hanging out on the hot side even tho they haven't eaten in weeks? should i be concerned?

if i am supposed to let them brumate, what exactly should i do? stop turning on the heat lamp AND the heat pad? or leave the pad on at night?

any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks in advance.

ps she poped out babies earlier this year (june 7). i don't know if this affects the current brumation issue. but i'm not trying to breed them, the last baby snakes were a surprise.

I live in southern California too. I haven't found any way to snap my garters out of winter mode. I'm not trying to breed, so after they go a few weeks without eating, I just turn off the heat. I keep their water dishes full for the duration and start offering food when they start roaming around looking humgry (usually around February).

-Alice