Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As we head towards October and brumation time, I have noticed as I clean cages and change water bowls that virtually every one of my thayeri have moved off the heat and are coiled up against their water bowls. This has all happened within a week. Its amazing to me how in sync they all are. I know its nothing big or new, but I think its cool...no pun intended.

Craig -- It is cool! Several of my adult thayeri have started to skip meals and are coiled up in the coolest spots in their cages, too. After a long hot summer, for the past three weeks there have been some nights when the night temps have dropped into the low-mid 50s. My best guess is that it's a series of cooler nights that tip the snakes off. The juvies and hatchlings don't seem to be slowing down at all regarding feeding responses.

Tom

Tom,

It may be that, but I am guessing it is more likely the photoperiod. My snakes are in my basement with windows by them. The ambient temps down there stay between 72-74F. They havent had much of a temp flux at my place, yet are still moving to the cold spot. Mine are all still eating well though.

Since your temps are fairly constant, photoperiod is definitely the likely signal that your snakes are responding to. There's got to be the potential for at least one Ph.D. thesis that could be written on finding out what the snakes are responding to ...