www.repvet.co.za/herp_photoperiod_hibernation_brumation.php

I keep pyros, bull snakes and gopher snakes. The average temperature range for brumation is between 45F and 55F from November to March. During brumation they are kept in a quiet totally dark place in tubs with aspen bedding and a bowl of water which is kept fresh. Prior to brumation I don't feed them for at least three weeks, although generally they take care of this themselves by going off feed for the season anyway. It is extremely important their gut be empty so food cannot decay while they are in such low temperatures. They are still active in brumation, unlike true hibernation which is sort of like suspended animation. But their metabolisms are slowed way down by the cool temperatures so they can conserve body mass during what in the wild would be a long period of little prey available.

In the spring I give them a couple weeks to warm back up then commence feeding them, first small meals then as much as they want once they are well into spring. Since I cohabitate my breeders, they will generally start mating in the following weeks. During mating season the males sometimes go off feed; one track minds! LOL!

Where I live brumation is easy...

Others utilize wine cooler refrigerators and such, if they live in warmer winter regions.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

[ Hide Replies ]

• Burmation - cpramsey, Sun Nov 11 22:06:59 2012
• RE: Burmation - pyromaniac, Mon Nov 12 20:39:30 2012
• RE: Burmation - tspuckler, Tue Nov 13 13:46:25 2012