Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, so I've been trying to figure out how to brumate my western hogs in the hot TX climate. Everyone's first inclination is to use a fridge, but I have heard that the new frost free fridges will suck the water out of the hogs and kill them from dehydration, even with a water bowl present.

So here is my thought... What if I brumated the hogs in large AIR TIGHT containers and simply opened the containers every couple of days to allow for air exchange. The resp. rates should be slow enough at 55*f for this to work.

The purpose of the air tight containers is too keep the air from the fridge from coming in direct content with the hogs, so the frost free function should not get a chance to dry them out. This should solve the "freeze-drying" problem.

Thoughts....? I think this might work, but I'd like some reassurance before I try it out. I don't want any snake jerky.
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com
Leos Anonymous
Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

Hi Ross, I use a Frigidaire stand alone fridge with twenty ¼ in. holes in the door and a Ranco thermostat. I put straws in the holes to keep the insulation from falling in the door this has worked for me for the last 4 years with know ill effect.
Tom.

Thanks for the reply Tom.

Do you know if it's a frost free fidge or not? How old is the unit?

I really don't want to kill my 3ft. het female.

It's strange how some people freeze dry their snakes in the fridge and others have no problem with it at all.

Thanks again for the help.
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com
Leos Anonymous
Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose
_____

Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

Hi Ross check out this link for the fridge

http://www.frigidaire.com/products/refrigerators/all_refrigerator/LargeUpright/prod_FRU17B2J.asp

Tom

man, tom, that is one of the nicest easterns i've ever seen...wherd'u get it...and if you don't mind me asking, how much $$$ did you have to fork out for it?
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Be excellent to each other...and Party on dude!

Ross,

Sorry I didn't get back to your email.

I have heard the same mixed results with refridgerators. Don't know the real scoop. It looks like the model shown below isn't frost free (why would it need manual defrost?).

I have also wondered about using wine coolers for hibernacula? It seems like they wouldn't be as dessicating and the don't get as cold.

You could also try a fridge and keep a big open pan of water in it possibly to keep the humidity up?
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Chris Harrison

Thanks for the input Chris, let me know if you find anything out about the fridges, etc.
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com
Leos Anonymous
Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose
_____

Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

I am using a dorm fridge right now to brumate a few of my hogs. In any type of fridge, the cooling unit is in the freezer and and it "leaks" the cold air into the fridge section. Dorm fridges have the small metal tray that acts as a freezer up top. I cut up a styrofoam cooler and duct taped it over the freezer section. I then cut a few holes to allow the cold air to vent into the lower part. The thermostat is measuring the freezer only, so it thinks it is keeping the proper temps, but I am able to maintian 55 degrees at the medium setting in the fridge (I keep two thermometers on it at all times and am almost obsessive about checking the temps) . The upper part does stay a few degrees cooler than the lower, so I rearrange the snakes when I check the water. I open it about twice a day to allow air flow.

The problems with this set up are (1) the dorm fridge is small and therefore only holds 5 shoeboxes and (2) the small space inside forces me to air it out more often than a large fridge (but don't take my word for it).

If you need to use a larger fridge you can change out the thermostat to a warmer one (relativaly easy) or attempt to modify the vent system from the freezer to the fridge (more difficult).

I have had my snakes in this set up for over 9 weeks and all are currently alive. I don't know anything about frost free fridges drying snakes out, but I would guess that if you maintain water dishes for each snake and check them periodically there shouldn't be a problem.

Good luck!
Jim

Not a bad idea there... thanks and good luck with your hogs!
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com
Leos Anonymous
Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose
_____

Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

Use a small aquarium air pump, with the air hose connecting from box to box or the entire fridge.

Having fresh air is always a plus.

lol

I've been brumating Westerns in a fridge for 4 years now with great results. I originally bought a used fullsize fridge for $100 and now have a new one as well. I picked up 2 Williams Brewing controllers that allow your fridge to go up as high as your room temps and as low as you need them without burning up your motor due to constant on and off switching. The controller is $99. I am able to start the hogs off at 70 or whatever the room temp is and drop the temps x number of degrees every other day until they hit 50. I then reverse the process at the end of the cycle slowing raising their temps with the controller until they hit room temps. I simply stack the shoe/sweater boxes in there and once a week I open the door, see if all looks well and that is it. No drilled holes, air pumps, nothing. Got the idea from Dr. Seward the gila man, he did this for years with his gilas. This year I'm going to build a rack that fits inside the fridge so I can go lidless similar to my snake rooms. Hope this helps.

Anyone ever tried using the fridge idea to hibernate their snakes in summer, and have hatchlings in the winter? I thought about trying it a few years ago but never did. Any thoughts?