Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all, I'd posted this query on the main ratsnake forum then promptly discovered this forum - where the cool people play.
I'm cooling a pair of conspics in Minnesota and have a range of temps available for brumation - one group of snakes requires 55 degrees and others require 65 but I'll be forever grateful if anyone has some info on ideal temps for brumating conspics.
Is 50-55 pushing the limit of their tolerance?
How has cooling at 60-65 affected viability?
Any experiences, good or bad, is very welcome and I thank you in advance.....
Jeff

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Let there be triangulum and lo, the milkhead was born.

I have a male conspic but not a female at the moment. I do have an extensive mandarin population and have friends that deal with conspics. Personally, I've had success with 60. 65 is probably pushing it a bit but I've continuously have put my mandarins down at 50 without any ill effects. Split the difference (55) and you'll be fine. Good luck to you. I know you from the milk forum and would love to get some pales and hypo stryper reds from you.

Thanx for the advice! After the post was placed, I scanned Schulz (duh) section on conspics then did some research on annual temp ranges in Gifu Perfecture and found central China can be downright cold, similar to midwest temps.
So the conspics are parked at 50-53 right now and I sleep better knowing that others have used similar temps and they're a cold tolerant specie.
Thanx for the advice, much appreciated, and Happy Holidays to you...
Jeff
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Let there be triangulum and lo, the milkhead was born.

Hello Jeff,

Somehow your post left me scratching my head a little.
Gifu Prefecture is in Japan....as are conspicillatus.
I do not believe that you will be able to find any "jimuguri" (Euprepiophis conspicillatus) anywhere in China....except perhaps in captivity.

I have collected them in Hokkaido, Japan.
In the northern part of their range, you can sometimes find the "Aka jimuguri".
Aka means, Red in Japanese. Jumuguri means, one who burrows.
The Aka jimuguri is a red patternless form...VERY NICE!

Of course Klaus is a wonderful reference for the temperature info.
And the temperature info you posted seems fine.
It gets very cold in Hokkaido, Japan....so they can withstand a considerable temp drop during brumation.

Anyway, your reference to China just threw me off a little.
Perhaps it was just a minor geographic error while typing quickly. However, if this species has been recently discovered to also exist in China...I would be interested in knowing about it.

Last year I played with captive hatched babies of Euprepiophis conspicillatus while at the Marayama Zoo with my friend who is the Curator of Reptiles there. Lots of fun. We did a little snake hunting together as well.
Take care.

Your friend,
Harlin Wall - WALL TO WALL REPTILES!
970-255-9255
970-245-7611

Hi Jeff,
I'm keeping conspis for many years.
I hibernate my adults for 5 months at temperatures between 5-10 °C (41-50°F).
I would not put them warmer. They feed only for some months every year and so it is necessary to keep them weight and hibernate them similar to the conditions of the origin. If You have them warm they loose more weight.
Last winter was very cold here and a many snakes from my collection got for two days temperatures of 1°C (34°F).
... no problem for them. I did breed them again.

Babies I hibernate at the same temperatures but shorter, because most of them don't feed before first hibernation.

Good luck with them and don't be afraid. In my eyes higher temeratures are the higher risk.

Stefan
www.elaphe.info
Link

Am I the only one who can't see this pic?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Am I the only one who can't see the pic?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra