brumating corns

[rynwilliams]

I am about to brumate my 2 4ft adult corns for the first time this year. when should i start? when should it end? what sort of temperature should it be? what size container should they be kept in?

[Simon]

well just to let you know a few things
corns do not nesscary need to be burmated. It is just easier for us breeders (no more feeding the adults for 2-3 month is like a big savings in money and time...hahah) unless you plan to breed you don't really need to brrumate your corns. Even if you are planning to breed your corns...you still don't HAVE TO burmate your corns to get them ready to breed...lol.....

Anyway I should answer some of your questions...
"when should I start"
this depends on you. I know some breeders start the burmation process around mid Oct and by the end of October they completely stop feeding and their temp is around 40-60F. (Make sure that their stomach has no food when they go into burmation...cause if they have food in their stomach and that the temperature is so low...they can't really digest the food and the food will rot inside the snake..which would cause death to the snake) I start around November.

"When should I end"
Also another thing that depends on yourself. Some people only burmate them for 1 month some 4 months....I usualy burmate them for 2-3 months (depending how the weather goes and how my time management goes...which is usually pretty bad..lol) So I usually burmate them in Nov and take them back out in Jan or Feb....

"what sort of temperature"
well basically I have answered it already...but here goes again...around 40-60F. I keep them around 50-60F. Cause I get really cold too...I live in an appartment...I start freezing too...haha

"What size container should they be kept in"
they same enclosure that they are in now. Why move them?

Side note:

Make sure you give them fresh water once in a while. Even though they are in burmation, it doesn't mean that they are 'sleeping' for 2-3 months. They do move and get a drink...so having no water for 2-3 months would surely kill them....lol

Make sure there is no food in the snake. To do this, before their temperature drops to 40-60F their last meal should be at least 2 weeks ago...

Drop the temperature slowly, not like (today it's going to be 70-85F and then tomorrow it's going to be 40-60F....) gradually drop the temp by cutting short of the heating time same as taking them back out. Gruadully increase the temp

Make sure that you feed them real good after you take them back out. They would be starved so they would really want to eat. Males may go off feeding since they would want to breed instead of feed...but some males would do both...hahah

I think tha tis basically it.....
good luck and if you have anyother problems just feel free to post again or directly email me if you want (or pm)