Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 3 adult North American rats(corn, grey, baird, plus western hog) that have not been eating, so I think I should go ahead and brumate them. Is pulling the UTH and keeping the room around 65-68 going to help, or do I need to get them cooler? They will still see a natural light cycle where they are. This is the first year with consistant refusal of food(the baird started in August...) so I am not sure what to do.

I do not plan on any breeding this season, but I don't want to waste my time and money offering food every week. My two '06 corns and my IJ python are still eating like champs, so I am guessing it is just the time of year.

Any suggestions?

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2.1 Corn (Anery Stripe-Ripple '06/Amber-Jack Straw '06/Amel Motley-Cosmo '03)
0.1 Baird's Ratsnake (Sugaree '04)
1.0 White Oaks Grey Rat (Tennesse Jed '04)
0.1 IJ Carpet Python (Cassidy '04)
1.0 Western Hognose (Samson '05)
1.1 Shepherd mix (Dylan 7yrs, Porter 2yrs)

The one thing you'll want to do if you cool them is get them cool enough so they won't be active.

You could just lower it a few degrees and continue with the natural light cycle you've been using. Couple months off feed won't hurt them; they'll eat again when they feel the season and the need.

FWIW when I didn't brumate my female black ratsnake she wouldn't eat from November til sometime in April, then ate like normal after that...

You might want to check the temperature on the floor against an outside wall. It will probably be a few degrees cooler. You're really looking to get temperatures in the 50s. If the light cycle is natural, then you don't need to mess with it.

Tim

Third Eye

If you decide NOT to brumate, and you really will need cooler temps than that if you do... Over the years, my ratsnakes which have gone off feed for the winter will often accept smaller prey items throughout the winter. They will certainly eat less often, but seem more likely to accept a meal which is a size or two down from their usual prey. As for wasting food...As they begin to go off feed I might defrost ONE prey item for all the "non-feeders", and offer it around until someone accepts it. Also, if the smaller snakes which are still feeding are on prey items only one or two sizes smaller, I would offer their meals to the larger snakes knowing that if they are rejected there are still hungry mouths to feed. and so on.

You got some good advice. I just wanted to add that that is a great looking sunglow.
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 MO Locale Black Ratsnake "Molly" (Flogging Molly)

"I'll be whatever I wanna do!"