Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've "discovered" Pits this year, and have probably gone a little bit overboard! Anyway, I've obtained several species from hatchlings to adults, and am wondering what the opinions of experienced keepers are in terms of whether to keep hatchlings and juveniles warm and feeding for the winter, or whether to let them brumate with the adults. My understanding is that many species of Pituophis do poorly if powerfed, and wonder if keeping them warm for the winter might be an extension of that. I'm not in any particular hurry for them to get to breeding size, and am not interested in trying to have the hugest Sonorans around, but if feeding them over the winter is an accepted practice I'd do it in the interest of having big healthy adults to breed. What do others think?
-Lee

brumating juveniles gives you a break - that's for sure.
Some breeders brumate all their colubrids for that reason alone.

I'm interested in answers to this question as well.
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x.y L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
x.y L. getula nigrita (MBK)
x.y L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
x.y Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus (W Hognose)
x.y.z Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

This has been a question over the years that we have attempted to monitor and try both ways. In our opinion unless there is a problem with sporadic feeding or something of that nature we just keep them feeding thru the winter.

With that said though relize that if you have photoperiods and/or temps that vary many times they will go into a semi brumation and feed terrible etc. Which can be very stressful and detrimental to your animals.

We have all the windows in the snake houses blacked out and tempeture is monitored very closely for precisely that reason.

Bottom line as long as your husbandry requirements are kept constant my suggestion would be to just keep them up and feed them thru the winter.

Good Luck
John Cherry
Cherryville Farms