Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My snake has been hiding under his waterbowl since around oct-nov 2008. I dont know if he's brumating or just hiding. 72-73 degrees in my room. IF it is brumating, when do they come back out? Spring time?

What kind of snake? How old? Captive bred or wild caught?
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Jerry Kruse

"One often meets his destiny on the path he takes to avoid it". - Master Oogway

calkin, about 1 yr(around 18" long), captive.

California kingsnake -- gotcha. It is not that unusual for captive herps to go "off-feed" this time of year. You may offer your snake, presuming it is of good body weight (a pic would help -- I seem to be asking this alot lately from folks...lol), a cooling period that may dip a little cooler into the 60's. As long as it is not looking sick or underweight, no worries mate. By spring it should come around. The concern is understandable, especially if you're not experienced with this sort of behavior, but it's not unnatural for it to occur. The biggest challenge we face with our captives is offering he most ideal situations for them to select what is best for them. We are in control of that, so the challenge is our burden to take on. Please do keep us updated.
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Jerry Kruse

"One often meets his destiny on the path he takes to avoid it". - Master Oogway

thanks for the timely reply JKruse. When a snake brumates, do they still come of out of their den or waterbowl, occasionally?

Mine would come out from under his waterbowl maybe once in like 2 months time. Is my snake brumating or does him coming out to sniff around mean that he's technically not?

it is commong for snakes to take advantage of warmer temperatures during a brumation period, simply stated. Although there are so many different angles one could take in responding to this inquiry, it is suffice to say that snakes are not "sleeping" during a brumation period, but rather in a state of abbreviated activity. Snakes will continue to benefit from hydration and some mobility during such a time, and maybe even going through ecydisis (skin shed) or having a brief opportunity to become more active during a warm spell. This can also vary depending on where the snake is indigenous to. In captivity, we tend to cool coubrid snakes, such as getula ssp, in temperatures around 55 - 60F. My personal brumation room fluctuates from 45F - 65F depending on the outside temperatures, with the cooler temps being near the floor.

Again, keep an eye on your specimen to ensure that too much weight is not being lost during this period. Things should be jumping again by spring give or take.
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Jerry Kruse

"One often meets his destiny on the path he takes to avoid it". - Master Oogway