Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A question:

I have a few 1-2 year-old thayeri in my collection that have at best a "half-hearted" feeding response this time of year. Currently they are warm (84 at the warm end) and the room they are in is brightly lit for about 15 hours per day.

I'm wondering if I let them clear their guts and I cool 'em down to about 60 degrees, what would be a reasonable minimum time to let them chill out before warming them to resume feeding, hopefully with a more robust appetite? Four weeks?

I am not "power feeding" them, but I hate to see them "stall out" for too long if I can get them to eat more regularly until they are breeding age/size.

Thanks.

Tom, I would give them at least 2 months if their weight is good. Cover them. Maybe just let them brumate until spring. Mike

Thanks for the advice, Mike. BTW, the orange snake that you posted a picture of above is a knock-out. Don't know if you'd call the bands double-diamond or batwing, but in either case it's a great looking animal. Have a great holiday!

Tom

Tom,
If they are stalling out, you could try a short brumation period though there are no gurantees that is works. By leaving them down until the end of Feb or mid March, they should come out of the cool down with an appetite. I never really had that problem with the thayeri I was working with but then again it could've just been the temps I maintained my snake room at that kept them feeding. My thayeri would eat consistently at 75 degrees so....who knows.

I have tried short cooling periods for non feeding hatchlings and they bounced back with great success.

Good luck.
Russ

Thanks, Russ. The pair I bought from you are doing great and eating well, usually two pinks per meal every 5-6 days. Of course that means lots of pooping, shedding, and cage cleaning. It's amazing that they seem to turn all those mice into length and not fat!

Have a great holiday --

Tom