Quote Originally Posted by Lovok View Post

The temp in her tank hasn't fluxed...
I still say that sometimes that is the problem. It's simply not natural for garters to have "ideal" temps 24/7 and never ending summer year 'round.

Whatever lattitude your snakes are from, I think if they are healthy and otherwise do not need any special medical care or anything like that, you should give them seasons by putting your lights and heat on a timer to match the day length for the time of year and no matter what time of year, cooling at night. It establishes a natural rhythm of day/night and seasonal rhythm that they have evolved with and it helps to trigger their natural responses including feeding. I'm not saying you need to brumate your snakes every winter but what I am saying is shorten the day in winter, cool things off at night a bit.

I'm starting a fall like thing for them. I've been letting it get cooler at night (65-68) and not as warm during the day (80 max) in addition to a shorter day. This seems to have triggered a feeding frenzy with all NW garters and concinnus. They are trying to "fatten up" for the winter I guess.

This is about as cool as it's going to get for snakes I don't plan to breed but the days will get a bit shorter still. The breeders will be going into the fridge soon and will stay there at 50 degrees for about 13-14 weeks. I'll miss my blue anery's while they're in there but they are in prime condition and I'm hoping for anery babies next year.

Anyway, my point is, the nightly cooling and even giving them seasons has big effect on their feeding habits. Sometimes just giving them never ending summer and not much cooling at night causes their appetites to eventually stagnate. Sometimes fluctuating temperatures, especially at night, can break them out of their non feeding mode.