Brumation handling

[joejjr]

I am a new BP owner and having a great time. I have a 7 year old which I think he is in brumation as this is the first winter I've had him. Is it OK to handle him during this period or is it to stressful for the snake?

[Crazymonkee]

If your temps are where they should be he won't brumate
What makes you think that?

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[NH93]

I don't know much about brumation... but I don't think ball pythons do that. They live in a warm, tropical environment in the wild (Africa).
I think you should be keeping your temperatures the same as every other time of year and day with no drop. And I would also assume you can handle as you normally would.

Please someone correct me if I am wrong (for example, if it is different when planning to breed ball pythons).

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

Holy Christ,lol,what do you sit on the page and wait for new threads so you can be the first to reply....weird!

[Physician&Snakes]

Captive breeding has not eliminated the "internal clock", despite relatively constant temperatures and humidity in the African grasslands most species still breed on a seasonal basis whether they are given a change in temperature or not. Since my male was around three years of age, he has gone on a fast from the end of November to mid January-early February. The pet store I worked at had a breeding colony of over 50 BPs, they all went off feed generally within the same time period...with a few exceptions here and there. Anyway, to answer your question: most specimens will still tolerate/enjoy handling while brumating.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Ball Pythons DO NOT brumate.

Now as far as handling this is like any other time of the year so there is no worry, the main change if any will be in feeding habits.

[satomi325]

Ball Pythons do not brumate........

Ghana's temperature stays relatively steady year round. The lowest average doesn't go below 70. Brumating is an evolutionary adaptation for animals to go dormant in order to survive cold winters. Africa doesn't have those, so there is no brumating in BPs.

You can handle your snakes like normal. Like Deborah said, its only their feeding response that changes.

And breeding season is triggered more from low barometric pressure than temps. Storms and rain makes them frisky. (bps can breed year round though in captivity).
November is the start of the typical breeding season, also the same time as the rainy season in Africa.

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