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Re: hibernating snakes
Way before the eyes cloud over, the scales become dull. That is an earlier sign of an impending shed, but it sounds like the humidity factor may be more important in your case.
Okay. I'm venturing into the realm of heresay, and I don't know if this is a reliable indicator or not, but...
I've heard that the "popping" sound you describe is gas in their stomach/GI tract caused by bacterial action. It's true that lower temperatures impair the immune system, which makes snakes more vulnerable to infections, outbreaks, and infestations. It's also true that bacteria excrete water and gas during cellular respiration, but whether or not they're responsible for the noise you heard is questionable. Can anyone shed more light on this phenomenon or its significance?
Regardless of the cause, I'd raise the temperature as a precautionary measure with a higher wattage light bulb and a rheostat. Shoot for the mid-to-upper 80s in the hottest part of the terrarium during the hottest part of the day. Best,
Rick
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