Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This post is somewhat related to an earlier recent post about neonate feeding protocols. We have eleven graybands out of the egg anywhere from three to five weeks now. Three of them have taken lizard-scented pinky mice right out my hand. The other eight are robust, but not interested in eating yet. Putting all of the inticement feeding techniques aside for a moment, of which I am well aware (braining, ivory or dove soaping, scenting with lizards, etc.), I would like to pose a question to those who are experienced in keeping neonates "up" for the winter through climate control. Has anyone out there routinely kept hatchlings up through the first winter season with success? If so, have you seen an increase in relative size compared to neonates that "went down" for a three or four month brumation period? Even though the neonates are captive-born, is there somehow imprinted within them an awareness that October is the time to hunker down for a four-month nap, even if the temps are kept at levels conducive to eating and digestion? I understand that if the neonates are going to brumate, it is essential to bring their body temps down to the 50-55 degree range so as to slow down the metabolism and minimize weight loss. Before I decide what to do with these hatchlings I would like to see if anyone out there in alterna cyberspace has any guidance or direction on this subject. Thank you for your time.

Marlon

Marlon, great to see you and your son at the recent show...back when we were really breeding a lot of alterna, we would have similar ratios of animals feeding vs not feeding that you experienced. We would brumate non-feeders at cooler temps for four to six weeks and hope for the best when they "emerged"; more often than not, a large percentage of non-feeders suddenly started feeding on lizard scented pink mice. We always lost a few of the neonates because we could not keep up with the lizards they wanted....but I would say, the majority of the babies eventually ate pink mice. Hope this helps....Gerry

Thanks, Gerold, for your insights. We read your book on alternas very soon after the Sac show. It was a very informative and interesting read. The text and the photos were excellent! We found ouselves wishing it was late spring again...We will brumate the eight non-feeders and will keep the other three up unless or until they go off-feed. Thanks again,

Marlon

The first couple years I bred alterna, I did just what you are decribing. I had about a third of them that started eating pinks before the fall. I cooled the nonfeeders and kept the feeders warm and fed them all winter. They definately grew more than the nonfeeders. By early spring, they were about twice the size of the nonfeeders. These days I like a little break from the cage cleaning in the winter, so I cool them all whether they are eating or not.

Tom

Thanks for sharing your experience. I think I will keep the feeders up and cool the others down.

MS