Hey Paul, thanks for your help on this strand........>

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Posted by Terry on October 26, 2000 at 19:31:43:

In Reply to: Re: length and temperature of burmutaton posted by Paul Hollander on October 26, 2000 at 16:41:44:

E.T., I was just throwing my opinion out there, not trying to be the expert. If you can breed E. vulpina or E. gloydi after brumating them in the high 50's, then go for it, but I have my doubts. Although I haven't bred either myself, I have friends that have tried and had to go at the lower temps to be successful.

Mostly I based my opinion on the fact that here in Northern Michigan, they come out of hibernation, usually in early to mid-May, and they go back into hibernation, usually sometime in early October. That's less than six months active. They must be kept quite cool to keep from losing body weight, and to keep them inactive. I have had both species overwinter.

Also, one time I experimented with a Russian Rat (E. schrencki schrencki), and hibernated him for seven months at 45-50*F, and he came out in good condition, and many other snakes for less time at these temps. These snakes are from similar latitudes. I also brumated an adult female corn at 50*F, for four months, and she laid 24 perfect eggs that year.

There are many varying opinions on this subject, and each of us are influenced by our personal experience, but I do keep a dozen species of Elaphe, and am generalizing to some extent. The Eastern fox (gloydi) could do well at slightly warmer temps, due to its lower latitudes.

P.S. I threw in a pic of a Western fox I caught with some friends this summer on a field trip to the Western U.P. I saw four fox snakes bt. mid-May and mid-July, in three trips.

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: E.T., I was just throwing my opinion out there, not trying to be the expert. If you can breed E. vulpina or E. gloydi after brumating them in the high 50's, then go for it, but I have my doubts. Although I haven't bred either myself, I have friends that have tried and had to go at the lower temps to be successful. : Mostly I based my opinion on the fact that here in Northern Michigan, they come out of hibernation, usually in early to mid-May, and they go back into hibernation, usually sometime in early October. That's less than six months active. They must be kept quite cool to keep from losing body weight, and to keep them inactive. I have had both species overwinter. : Also, one time I experimented with a Russian Rat (E. schrencki schrencki), and hibernated him for seven months at 45-50*F, and he came out in good condition, and many other snakes for less time at these temps. These snakes are from similar latitudes. I also brumated an adult female corn at 50*F, for four months, and she laid 24 perfect eggs that year. : There are many varying opinions on this subject, and each of us are influenced by our personal experience, but I do keep a dozen species of Elaphe, and am generalizing to some extent. The Eastern fox (gloydi) could do well at slightly warmer temps, due to its lower latitudes. : P.S. I threw in a pic of a Western fox I caught with some friends this summer on a field trip to the Western U.P. I saw four fox snakes bt. mid-May and mid-July, in three trips.

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