Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all!

Last year, I couldn't brumate because I had no where cool enough to do so. I have a friend that's going to brumate his kings using a closet. He says the temps dip in the 50's, so my question is, if he were to take my Northern, what's a good length to brumate a pine? And what are the best tempatures? I've been doing some reading, but as usual, I'm getting mixed opinions.

I guess I should mention my Northern is two years and three months old.

Any advice or help would be apprecitive since I've been more into boids and don't have any experience in brumation. Thanks everyone!

:^) R.E.M. sleep that is

lol
Fred

No,but seriously,I try to get at least 8 hours a night,lol. Kevin

Generally, 6 to 8 hours brumation at 72 deg F is sufficient, depending on photoperiod. Usually, eating doesn't stop untill just before entering stasis.

It is helpful to provide water nearby to promote proper hydration, but is also important not to overdo it. This avoids the problem of frequent urges to interrupt brumation for urination.

Coming out of brumation is usually electro-mechanically facillitated by means of a timer actuating a loud unpleasent noise.

Yawwwnnn....

JPD
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I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat (WV Rescue) "Roberta"

4 hours for the avg. adult male. No specific temps mentioned.

reako45

Is that amount of brumation enough to trigger a mating response?

For me mating seems to trigger a hibernation response.

And turn down the A/C
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Lloyd Heilbrunn

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

I think at least 60 days is the norm. Even if the temperature doesn't get cool enough the darkness should trigger mating. Keep them above 50 degrees and below 70 if you can and they should mate no problem. My bulls mated this summer without even brumating. I think it was just the shorter days.

November 15th to Feb 15th. give or take a week or two. Liquid refreshment and total dark. I think?

90 days or so is a good span that works & is not too long. one year i went 120 days but i felt the snakes lost too much weight & didn't bounce back as quickly.

>>>Liquid refreshment and total dark. I think?

Access to water is essential to prevent dehydration.

Total dark is neither necessary nor easy to achieve, and may be contraindicated.

Total darkness only exists naturally deep inside caves. Achieving total darkness artificially is not easy - ask any photographer with a darkroom.

A snake's hormonal system is tuned to circadian rhythms - as such a daily light/dark cycle is very important. Most hibernacula are not in the zone of total darkness - some faint natural light is almost always present. Without exposure to this natural light/dark cycle, the hormonal system has no cues to go by.

Human studies have show living out of contact with natural circadian cycles to be detrimental to subject's physical and mental health. One can only imagine the effects on a creature much more dependent on instinct and far less capable of abstract thought.

Regards,

John D
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I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat (WV Rescue) "Roberta"

I will do a bit more reading. I should have mentioned that I'm not planning on breeding. Last year because I didn't have a means to put him into brumation, he lost weight. So I thought if I put him into brumation, slowing down his metabolism would prevent dramatic weight loss.

Besides don't most colubrids shut down on food this time of year anyway? So, wouldn't it be natural to brumate?

Thanks again.

you are exactly right. if they discontinue feeding in the autumn which is normal, it's best to give 'em a nap. watch out for the feeding response later however, they'll try to take your hand off!! good luck.......

I wouldn't brumate if you aren't going to breed. As long as the temps are warm enough, they should continue to eat. If temps were too warm, they may also stop eating. Pits are known to fast for periods as well, for no reason. It may have just been a fast last year coincidently in the winter.

I'd say, brumate if he stops eating. Wait a few weeks after the last feeding so that all the food in his stomach has passed, then put him down for a month and wake him back up. A short cooling may no be enough for breeding, but it should be enough to kick a feed response back in while minimizing your time without the snake (cause you know you can't handle not being able to take your pit out for some fun for too long).
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"I'll be back at 6 if not 7. 8 the very latest but definatly no later than 9...ish...Moscow time."