Time for Brumation?

[Albert Clark]

I stand by what i say cuz of experience. Do really think im gonna keep going back and forth with you? The conversation isnt going anywhere. I dont care if you dissagree with. If you have better suggestions then speek up

And that's fine.... My suggestion to the OP has been documented early on in the thread. It was that brumation in the non feeding garter to stimulate and or reset the feeding clock is controversial. But often time not necessary. I know you have tons of experience Joe and i respect that but we have healthy differing opinions and points of view which are considerations for the people asking the questions.

[Eddie]

Guys, wild garters have no choice in this matter. It does not matter when they were born or what their condition is. If the temps drop they drop and the strong survive and the weak do not. I have tried many times to keep weak snakes alive in unnatural conditions. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. If you come across a snake that will not eat your best option is to take it off heat. No matter what the problem is taking it heat slows metabolism, slows dehydration and slows parasite growth in most cases. I wish the best of luck with this young snake but I would not hesitate to take it off heat starting now if it was in my care. Just my 2 cents.

[Albert Clark]

Guys, wild garters have no choice in this matter. It does not matter when they were born or what their condition is. If the temps drop they drop and the strong survive and the weak do not. I have tried many times to keep weak snakes alive in unnatural conditions. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. If you come across a snake that will not eat your best option is to take it off heat. No matter what the problem is taking it heat slows metabolism, slows dehydration and slows parasite growth in most cases. I wish the best of luck with this young snake but I would not hesitate to take it off heat starting now if it was in my care. Just my 2 cents.

This is understandable Eddie for sure. However, there is a difference from being in the wild and being captive. The animal has no choice in the wild, in the terrarium, the keeper controls conditions like feeding frequency, temperatures, humidity and shelter. A couple of days in between feeding is not a recipe to brumate a neonate snake who doesn't have the fat reserves to withstand cooling temps. Now you know I respect you and your experience but in this case I would have to wait the baby out and offer different foods, see if he's approaching a shed cycle, more time is needed here to reevaluate the animals response. Listen, maybe the little guy/ girl is still digesting his / her last meal. I'm ready to put this controversy to bed in any case. Thanks for weighing in.