Brumation conditions: Dry, humid or wet?

[ConcinusMan]

I find the snakes I brumate spend a lot of time in the water dish.

Me too. But wet substrate? I think not. I'll pass on that.

Good addition to the thread. Thanks Stefan.

I wouldn't draw any conclusions based on that as far as care in captivity goes. Remember, a lot of things happen in the wild. Doesn't mean it's good for captivity. I've seen the shape garter snakes are in when they come out of a water logged hibernaculum. Terrible. Blisters, skin infections, RI's, etc. I know that if I kept them on wet substrate during hibernation, it wouldn't be but a few days before the substrate start smelling like mushrooms growing on a rotted log. That can't be good.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Me too. But wet substrate? I think not. I'll pass on that.



I wouldn't draw any conclusions based on that as far as care in captivity goes. Remember, a lot of things happen in the wild. Doesn't mean it's good for captivity. I've seen the shape garter snakes are in when they come out of a water logged hibernaculum. Terrible. Blisters, skin infections, RI's, etc. I know that if I kept them on wet substrate during hibernation, it wouldn't be but a few days before the substrate start smelling like mushrooms growing on a rotted log. That can't be good.

Is a smelly substrate really worse than a desiccated snake?