Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It's finally getting to be winter here in Sacramento. My adult desert king isn't eating and i was told to turn off her heat and let her hibernate. I have a bloodred corn that was born in mid July. Today he refused to eat his pinky for the first time since I accidentally got him sick when i gave him a pinky that was too big. Should i turn off my corn's heat so he can hibernate too or is he too little for me to do this?

There isn't really any point in brumating if you aren't planning to breed the next season. It is dangerous (so I hear) for younger snakes and shouldn't be done. IMO
-----
0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

I'd say that hibernating a young of the year has a little risk rather than is dangerous. While I prefer to keep the youngsters warm and feeding, going off food is a reason for brumating them. And I have brumated young of the year without any problems. In my opinion, if the youngster doesn't eat for a couple of more weeks, it might be worth seriously considering brumation.

If you do brumate that corn, try to get it down between 50 and 60 Fahrenheit, keep the water bowl full, and cover the cage to keep it dark. And warm it up after 6-8 weeks.

Good luck.

Paul Hollander

One missed meal is not a good reason to brumate a baby corn, but if he does not eat for several weeks it could help to cycle him back up. Since he got sick, he may still be gunshy...so give him a chance to get his hunger back. With a little one that refuses a few meals, I might even offer a pinky with the head cut off (offer head & body and let him pick & choose). Actually, with a recent puker it's not a bad idea anyhow. Good luck. Duffy

yeah i just found last weeks meal thrown up in his tank today. I guess he's still a little sick. I'm going to skip a feeding and feed him the week after next and see if he'll eat then.