Appropriate Size for Brumation box?

[ConcinusMan]

During brumating, the snakes try to expend as little energy as possible. This entails soaking in the water basins for the most part or simply laying around. I wouldn't think that a container would have to be excessively large. As long as the snake is able to choose between moist and dry, things should be fine.

I agree. Containers don't have to be very big at all but they should have the choice to soak, sit in damp substrate, or dry substrate. That's the approach I took this year. Sometimes I find my snakes sitting in the water, sometimes I find them buried in damp substrate, sometimes I find them all sitting in the dry area.

You really should fast your snakes for 2-3 weeks at near normal temps. Gotta get all the digestion and defecating done before the temperature drops too low. You don't want them brumating with bowel and gut contents.

Mine are sitting at 45-52 F currently. It rarely gets above 50 or below 47 though and when it does, it's just briefly. This seems about right. There's no activity and when I go to check on them, it's obvious they are sleeping deeply. The only time they seem to be more awake is when it gets above 48. I don't like to go below 45 either for fear of brain damage which can occur at temps as high as 40.

Your container sizes seem about right to me but IMO the substrate shouldn't all be damp. If they want to be wet they'll just sit in the water. If the humidity seems to low you can always give them a mist.

[SilasBannook]

Thanks. Big Mama hasn't eaten in over a month and I put her back into brumation in a slightly bigger container. I have a bigger water container and I am using paper towels as a substrate with an old rag in there as well. I will check on her in a couple days to see how she is taking to it. I will also include some pictures. Thanks all for the feedback. I am wondering if I should go back to the aspen chip as a substrate so she can have more of a wet substrate. Let me add some pictures in a couple days and then you guys can tell me what you think.