Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello Thayeri Folks!

I know that as adults, thayeri MUST brumate in order to synchronize cycles and for the males to produce viable sperm.
But I'm curious as to how many of your juvenile thayeri (pre-breeding size) spontaneously stop eating and want to brumate when fall comes? I was able to keep my '06 hatchlings eating through last winter but was wondering if there is any rule of thumb or tips on how to keep them eating through their second winter? I don't "power feed", but all have been eating well about once a week. They are growing well without getting pudgy.

Thanks in advance for any advice and experience you can share . . .

keep the heat on and the ambient room temps in the mid 70s and they'll eat all day. I feed anything that is not going to breed the following summer all winter long without problems. They eat consistently on a 5-7 day schedule ( I don't consider that power feeding).
Russ

i only had one last year that went off feed for about a month, so i took her off heat at room temps for a few weeks put her back on heat and she started up again

Adam

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Positive Thoughts Equal Positive Results

Thanks, Adam. I had an '05 stop eating last fall for almost 2 months, so I put him in the basement (about 55 deg F). If he or any of the others balk at food for any length of time this year, I'll try the no-heat but room temp. route for a couple of weeks, then plug 'em in again to get them eating again.

Thanks, Russ. I'll keep 'em warm and keep on feeding.