sick garter ( limp )

[untoucheclipse]

hey everyone, i need some info or help, my garter has been hibernating for 3 months now, just in a regular room with less light and cooler temps. today i was gonna give her some food and she is pretty much lifeless and lays limp with her mouth open. im worried i dont want her to die, just behind her head looks skinnier than normal too, but the rest of her body is still in good shape, shes kinda a dull grey color too.
thanks guys

[kibakiba]

If she was brumating (hibernating) why were you feeding her? I don't believe you're supposed to feed a garter while its brumating because their metabolism slows down and can cause the food to rot in their stomachs. Why has she been brumating for 3 months? That seems a bit early to start brumating, in my opinion. That was back in September... Most people didn't seem to start brumating their garters until late October or November.
I don't know much about brumation, other than what other members have said, but... someone else could give you more information on how to help her. Sometimes when garters are in shed they turn a bit opaque, are her eyes milky looking?

[untoucheclipse]

nope her eyes are black and she just lies there limp now.

[drache]

limp and mouth open does not sound good at all
when was the last time you saw her look normal?
you might try a lukewarm soak and see whether that helps, but I am not optimistic from your description
bringing her to a vet would be optimal, but it sounds like transporting her could do her in
definitely raise the temps and make sure she has adequate water
please keep us posted

[kibakiba]

Is she breathing, or flicking her tongue at all? If you pick her up or touch her does she even move? And have you been feeding her while she was brumating? If you have, I wouldnt be surprised if the food has rotted in her stomach, which if I remember what was said correctly, can kill her.

[untoucheclipse]

i will, i put her back in her tank with a mild heat lamp on to see if she will respond, she flipped on her side and her mouth isnt open now but lying not moving. i tried the soak and thats what put her into shock i think, yesterday she was fine

[untoucheclipse]

i did no feed her during brumation, she isnt flicking her tounge or breathing much, 3 months i havent fed her, i got the info from a guide on the net to not feed her for 3 months.

[kibakiba]

A soak in lukewarm water doesn't seem like it would put her into shock unless the water was warmer than that and maybe heated her body too fast. I'm not really sure, though.

[guidofatherof5]

Can you give us an idea of your brumation setup. Substrate, water, temps(important)
Thanks.

[untoucheclipse]

well it was about 5C in the room in the basement where i had her and the water would have been room temp for the room, its the coldest room in the house. the only thing is the lighting wasent completely dark