Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is the proper way to brumate brooks?

I planned on stopping feeding in december and turning off his bottom heating to start the cooling process, them moving his enclosure into the garage in january. the garage remains around 45-55. i've read that light is not relevant and as long as he has fresh water he'll be ok for a few months.

is there anyway i can tell if he is OK, i mean not too cold?

how do i know when he is ready to come out of brumation and begin feeding?

thanks, tom

make sure you stop feeding at least two weeks before brumation. This way any food can be digested. You need to keep an eye on the snake to make sure it does not lose too much weight in the brumation process. I do not know how others do it, but I was told last feed by november 1st, brumate november 14th (totally cooled)until feb 1st (totally warmed up by the 14th). i have also heard shorter brumation cycles work just fine. To each thier own, I guess.
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****Misty****

www.sneakyserpents.com

"Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints"

I'm shooting for early december as the start of my brumation, coming out in March - but I'm waiting a little extra time to allow my sick snake (hookworm) to gain weight after treatment (and verify that it really is gone) and because my female albino laid a late clutch - I want to give her a little extra time before she goes down for the winter.

Next year, there shouldn't be any snakes with hookworm or anything like that - I will aquire some some new snakes, but they will be neonates that won't go down anyway. Next year for me, it will probably be November through some time in march, as that is when they brumate in the wild here. A few can still be found in early October, but they are all down by beginning of November and you can't find any coming out until mid to late march, if not April (depends on weather).
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3.0 WC; 0.3 CB L. getula californiae
1.0 CB L. getula nigrita
0.1.1 WC; 0.0.3 CH Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata