Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,
I have a juvy(I assume) common garter snake. And over the last few days I've discovered him under his water dish. Now his cage,is a more natural setup of earth, and fall leaves. He has a large water dish, along with a rock liftend up that he likes to hide under.

Now I also assume its around the time these guys brumate. SO,
1) Is it dramatic to there health if I don't brumate him?
2) Will a less natural setup like subtrate aspen, a hidy spot, and water dish lessen the wanting to brumate thing? Would that setup be alright? Is aspen as a substrate alright?
3) How do you brumate them?
4) Do I need to fatten him up, before I can brumate him?
5) Could I just leave him under his water dish for the hole winter?

Thanks all so much for the help, I appreciate it
Herpfood

Changing his cage will not suppress the need to brumate. If you are going to brumate him, you need to take him off feed for at least 3 weeks, then start to allow his cage temps to drop gradually over a period of about 3 to 4 weeks until you reach about 60 degrees F. Then do not offer him food, but keep water available during the brumation period. Normal brumation period is about 3 months. He does need to have at least normal body weight before you brumate him.

While he's in brumation he won't need food because his metabolism will slow way down and he should not be fed because he will not be warm enough to facilitate proper digestion and you can end up with food rotting in his gut.

Don't inturrupt the brumation period..just leave him alone and make sure he has water. I usually brumate my animals in a dark area.

TO bring him out of brumation, just warm him back up to normal cage temps over a period of about a week. Sometimes they will take food immediately after you warm them up and sometimes they will shed first. Mine usually always shed within a week of coming out of brumation.

If you decide not to brumate him , it's not really a big deal. He just may not have a big appetite during that time. Most people brumate to trigger breeding response, egg production and sperm production.

np