Reptile & Amphibian Forums

both degei and naaza have refused to eat since they shed last month....... i think they have went into brumation, should i turn the heat off for a few months?? or just leave everything like it is?

If your planning to breed, which I assume you are, then yes gradually turn the heat down and cool them down. But if your NOT going to breed them then keep the temps the same, they wont mind a slightly warmer winter this year

actually im not going to breed them this year..... maybe next, just wanted to know if i should shut the heat down for them to brumate.

Oh ok thanks for clarifying, its all up to you, they really don't need to brumate. But if you want to brumate then brumate.

well they kind of went into brumation on their own.

Often during the winter, our cage temps go down a little. This decreases the appetite, but the snake is not cool enough to not need any food. If you brumate, it needs to be done completely at the recommended low temperatures. Otherwise, do what needs to be done to increase them temps back to their summer normals.

I think you should avoid the brumation this season since they are not eating and you did not intend to hibernate them. There is a possibility that they are anorexic for reasons other than temperature. Ill snakes should never be brumated.
Fix your temperatures and have your snake prove it is not sick.
Ian

both snakes shed around the end of oct, one on the 17 and one on the 20th, both snakes ate three days later..... from there they have refused to eat.... i know the snakes arent sick they arent showing any signs of illness nor any weight loss, they are plump and active..... i have noticed since the daylight had shortened both of the snakes have become less active.

How so raisnok? Could be they just don't want to do anything, my 12 corns all are still active provided I have the heat & light on. If your not going to breed then raise the temperature and in a few weeks they will go back to there regular self. Maybe they aren't eating and being less active because they want to brumate but if it's not needed then raise the temp. They still need water for brumation by the way.

i have not actually lowered any of the temps, the water is still in both enclosures...... after the last sheds they both have stayed out of the heated sides of the tanks, in the cooler sides in their hides..... thats why im guessing they are brumating.... even though i dont intend to breed them, isnt it possible that some animals in captivity will still brumate out of instinct.......

the triggers for brumation are probably being met (slightly lower temps.. thermometer?, change in humidity, possibly a change in atmospheric pressure, probably a change in daylight hours); however the conditions for brumation are not being met. That is why the suggestions have been given to avoid this "sitting on the fence" and do what you can to return the snakes to their summertime behavior. The alternative of course, is to drop temps after a time off of feed and brumate them properly.

Ian

i have not actually lowered any of the temps, the water is still in both enclosures...... after the last sheds they both have stayed out of the heated sides of the tanks, in the cooler sides in their hides..... thats why im guessing they are brumating.... even though i dont intend to breed them, isnt it possible that some animals in captivity will still brumate out of instinct.......

that was my post before, as i have stated i havent actually dropped any of the temps, only thing i can do is either put both snakes in a smaller enclosure to force them to get in the heat, or raise the heat above the temps i have now..... the temps now are 88 for the heated side, and 75 for the cool side.