Reptile & Amphibian Forums

These are my Russian and Korean rat snakes. They have both been hibernated for 3.5 months, although I have no intention of breeding them. They were hibernated simply because they stopped eating and I didn't want them to lose weight.

They are finally back up to temperature at 75F... but can you believe that neither has eaten for that long ?? They retain their body weight beautifully.

Hey, I can believe it. I've kept Russians for a long time. They can hibernate up to seven months in the wild, and when I was starting out I once brumated one for seven months to see what would happen. It lived and went on to be a breeder, but lost weight that winter, and wasn't my best breeder. Now I brumate my adult Russians four to five months usually. Works for me and them.

TC

>>These are my Russian and Korean rat snakes. They have both been hibernated for 3.5 months, although I have no intention of breeding them. They were hibernated simply because they stopped eating and I didn't want them to lose weight.
>>
>>They are finally back up to temperature at 75F... but can you believe that neither has eaten for that long ?? They retain their body weight beautifully.
>>