Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK, I am going to take you guys' advice and brumate the little guy. But, I truthfully have never had to brumate a snake this young. So, I have a few more questions for those that have brumated babies before.

1.He last ate about 3 1/2 - 4 weeks ago, is it safe to brumate him now, or is that to long or short ago from last feeding?

2.For a snake this size, do the same temps for nomal brumation apply? Where I am planning on putting him it is a constant 55-60 degrees. Is this suffice?

3. What is best to put in the container/aquarium?

Thank you all for the help!!!

1.He last ate about 3 1/2 - 4 weeks ago, is it safe to brumate him now, or is that to long or short ago from last feeding?

That's fine. Most people wait 10-14 days after the last feeding.

2.For a snake this size, do the same temps for nomal brumation apply? Where I am planning on putting him it is a constant 55-60 degrees. Is this suffice?

Yes. Baby snakes can be cooled in the same manner (and at the same temperatures) as adults.

3. What is best to put in the container/aquarium?

It really doesn't matter much. The snake will tend to be inactive during cooling. If it's feasible, I'd simply put the reptile in the cage you're keeping it in, in the brumation area.

Tim

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

Don't forget that he may not need food but he still needs clean water.

I have an adult WC black rat I rescued from a neighbor's back patio three years ago, in late summer. That first year he did just what yours has done -- ate fine until abuot mid-October and then refused food. Rather than brumating him I just left him in the tank with normal heat (and water) through the winter, offering a f/t rodent every three weeks or so, which he continued to refuse until he took one again in early March, with no ill effects at all. Since then he has fed right through the winters each year . . . apparently his body clock was reset that winter. I am not sure that it the nest strategy for a younger snake, but yuo may also succeed in getting yours to adapt to year-round feeding by not brumating.