Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How do I go about brumating my two garters? I want them to get them to breed next season. Thanks for all of you who respond or even for a website to help. Thanks!

Zach

My formula for breeding Iowa _Thamnophis radix_:

1) Practice good husbandry with plenty of good food.

2) Daily temperature cycle -- 29-31 C (84-87 F) day, ~21-23 C (70-75 F) at night.

3) Winter brumation. Maintain normal temperature cycle for two weeks with no food, to clear the gut. Hold at ~21 C (~70 F) for two weeks. Then hold at 16 C (~60 F) for two weeks. Then drop to 5 C (40 F) for three months. (Note: Garter snakes from the southern half of the USA probably should be chilled to around 10 C = 50 F.)

My snakes were in a plastic sweater box full of crumpled newspaper with a water bowl inside a refrigerator. Dehydration is likely to be the biggest danger. The frig was opened daily for fresh air, and water was given at least once a week.

The snakes may be brumated either separately or together, as you like.

To end brumation, raise the temperature to 16 C (~60 F) for a week before returning to the normal daily temperature cycle. Breeding generally starts a few days after coming out of brumation.

4) If at first you do not succeed, stick with the formula. The males may be shooting blanks till the second or even third breeding season.

This has worked for me. Others may do it differently, which only means
that in our varying fashions we have provided all the stimuli the snakes
need to breed. Good luck.

Paul Hollander

Thanks for the words of advice!

Zach