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guypettigrew
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
 Posted - 13/11/2008 : 11:48:15
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Hi all
My first post on here, but I seem to recognise some of the names from other forums!
Can you please advise me about hibernating my baby (cb 2008) L. z. agalma?
I assume they need to be hibernated, but what temperatures do people take them down to, and for how long?
Many thanks.
Guy |
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lewy
King Snake Admin
United Kingdom
25000023 Posts |
Posted - 13/11/2008 : 13:23:43
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Hi Guy, Welcome to the forum - I think most will say your snake is too young to put into brumation. Normally you will only cool off a snake which you will want to breed, or if a keeper has many snakes they may also do this to bring the feeding and heating costs down. You should only brumate if your snake is mature and a healthy weight, otherwise it can harm the snake.
A snake under a year old wouldn't have enough body weight to keep it healthy through the winter and would most likely perish.
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Lewy
THE KING SNAKE.co.uk Team
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Blackecho
Kingsnake Forum Admin
United Kingdom
203 Posts |
Posted - 13/11/2008 : 18:27:21
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| Hi Guy, as above, you only really need to Brumate if breeding next year, which yours will be too young for. |
www.royalpython.co.uk/forum
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magneticblue
Kingsnake Forum Admin
United Kingdom
1511 Posts |
Posted - 13/11/2008 : 19:04:59
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| As above. I certainly have no plans to brumate Sylar |
1.1.0 Arizona mountain king (Sylar and Claire)
0.1.0 Blotched king ( Jasmin)
1.1.0 Guyana red-tail boa (Hercules and Athena)
1.0.1 children (Alfie and BUMP)
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Gingerpony
SerpentSeven's Evil Twin
United Kingdom
726 Posts |
Posted - 14/11/2008 : 12:12:22
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for my 07s and 08's I'm leaving the light on in the room for a few hours on an evening to try and con them into thinking it's still longer daylight. i really DON'T want them to even think about brumating, i'm keeping the temps up too, hopefully that will keep them feeding as usual  |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, Dumerils boas, BCO hybrids, Sinder Hypo boas, Day Geckos
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guypettigrew
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 14/11/2008 : 17:38:13
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So, the general opinion is NOT to brumate the babies.
Without wishing to be controversial, can I please say this confuses me?
Let me explain.
I breed Rubber boas.
The babies very often won't feed after being born in August/September.
I brumate them from December to mid March, at about 40F. They are then warmed up and, without fail, start feeding.
So, my query is; if a snake of any age or size would naturally brumate, as I assume L. zonata would, shouldn't we replicate that for them?
Guy |
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Kazerella
King Snake Admin
United Kingdom
1512 Posts |
Posted - 14/11/2008 : 18:12:11
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I suppose it would be personal choice really. All my babies are staying awake this winter, but my adult female corn and my adult mexican black are being cooled down.
What do rubber boas look like?  |
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guypettigrew
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 14/11/2008 : 18:48:42
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Here's an adult pair.
They are the most northerly boa, living on the American/Canadian border.
Guy
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matty18714
Moderator
United Kingdom
450 Posts |
Posted - 14/11/2008 : 18:56:54
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| They look very nice |
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Kazerella
King Snake Admin
United Kingdom
1512 Posts |
Posted - 14/11/2008 : 18:57:50
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They look cool!!! all rubbery and everything.
They must be quite rare, because I've not heard of those before |
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guypettigrew
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 14/11/2008 : 19:58:02
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Very rare in collections in the UK and Europe.
Fairly common in the wild.
But, back to kingsnakes.
What are people thinking about the brumation question above?
Guy |
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Kazerella
King Snake Admin
United Kingdom
1512 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2008 : 09:41:15
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I have to agree with everyone else, I wouldn't brummate a young snake either.
But I do see your point too. They would cool down in the wild, but maybe that's one of the reasons why snakes have large clutch sizes. They aren't expected to survive the early years due to predators and things. Maybe cooling down is another thing that young snakes are best to avoid, but it doesn't mean that some won't be alright with it. |
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Crimson King
Egg
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2008 : 13:09:05
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I have cooled the babies and have also kept feeding them throughout the winter.....so..it really just depends on your personal preferences. As eluded to above, if i have many babies "left over" and want a break of sorts, I'll cool down (as much as I can here in FL,USA) to keep the maintenance down a bit too. Stubborn feeders will sometimes respond to a short cool down and come out feeding well.
I would go with a system that you know and trust.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
:Mark |
www.crimsonking.piczo.com |
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Kazerella
King Snake Admin
United Kingdom
1512 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2008 : 16:54:03
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I think you should be alright anyway Mark, because the climate you live in is the snakes natural climate. Your winters don't get as cold as ours do, so they'd be alright. 
I think more people don't do it over here because it is more of a risk for the little ones, but I think it is personal choice. You'll have to do what you think is best Guy. |
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paul.c
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
37 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2008 : 19:35:15
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I breed kings, milks and corns. I cool all adults for breeding but i dont brumate hatchies. But in reality if they have been feeding well for a few months they will be ok, as this is what they would do in the wild ant ways. I would rather keep my babies growing over there first winter.
But if you were to cool them down you would go about it the same way as you would your rubber boas. Stop feeding, keep warm for at least 2 weeks (or until you think they are empty) then slowly cool them down, and give them less day light hours. Seeing as they are babies brumate for only 2 months. Slowly bring back up to temps and increase hours of light. When temps and light is back up to normal start to feed.
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paul |
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Carl
Hatchling
United Kingdom
498 Posts |
Posted - 29/11/2008 : 17:08:04
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Just been reading this topic. How do you go about doing that cooling down. Is every ones heating system on some sort of like dimmer switch or is it a case of leaving the bulbs off for a certain period. I wouldnt be doing mine this year anyway cos hes an 08 but it will be worth knowing for the future |
1.0.0 Mexi Black (Snoop)
1.0.0 Milk Pueb (Lestat)
0.2.0 Mexi Black (no name) |
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Topic |
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Hibernation
