Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok so this is the first year I decided to let my snakes sleep. I have a small addition on my new house that is not hooked up to the central heating and air and we only use the room for storage. It remains around 50-55F in that room most of the time right now. I have the snakes in there. I started cooling them down 2 weeks after there last feed and check on them each day, keeping the water fresh and full. Am I missing anything? I am so so worried as I feed them every 7 days and the past few weeks I feel like I am going to kill them but not feeding them. Am I doing everything right thus far? How long should I allow them to sleep? Being that they have never Brumated should I keep this first one short or should they be ok for the long haul?
Foot Hill Reptiles

I'd keep the water dishes half full, especially if you're checking on them once a week. If the snake displaces water in the dish, you'll have a humid, cold environment that may lead to respiratory problems.

Most people I know cool their snakes until mid-February, giving their snakes 10-12 weeks of cooling - though I've cooled corns for as little as three weeks and have had successful breedings from those pairs. In February/March the light cycles get to a length where the growing hours of daylight trigger corn snakes to breed.

I wouldn't worry about not feeding them. Captive bred corn snakes lose very little (if any) weight during brumation.

Tim

Third Eye

...like said..half full water dish......
stick them in room
walk away
check on them once a week IF you feel the need
I check mine once a month?...and one year I threw them in cool and pulled them 8 weeks or so later and never checked them once
they'll be fine

only time I ever killed 2 was when I used an open window and a tarp around them...it got to 40 at least....I lost a foot male yellow rat about 4 yr old and another snake I forget what....corn i think....

.....you'd be surprised what they can handle....
and if the conditions are too good, and you check too much???....why brumate...you still use your time....and if too warm they'll do worse....

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Ok thanks for the replies. I have been glancing in the enclosures every day "Not opening them and disturbing them" Thus far I have a young Pacific Gopher that refuses to go to sleep but the Kings and Corns don't seem like they have moved a muscle. They are calling for snow very low this weekend and next week and temps in the 20-30's so I will keep a close eye to keep the room in the 50's.
Foot Hill Reptiles

they will NOT sleep....they will be awake and looking at you...even at 40 degrees.....

......dark , alone and left for a couple months,,,,they'll do fine....
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I just monitor each snake on a weekly to bi-weekly basis. Check/change the water and make sure the snakes are not losing any weight. Also make sure no one is open mouth breathing or seems too active. If they seem to maintain their weight and are settled down for the nap, there is no reason to not brumate the whole time. i bring up in February. You are semi close to me, so you should be similar temps. I thought about brumating some of my snakes longer (the ones that enter brumation late), but the temps here wont let me. It gets too warm.
take care.
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****Misty****

www.sneakyserpents.com

"The more things change, the more they remain Insane"

Yes our temps should be fairly close as I am only about 30 miles or so from you.
Foot Hill Reptiles