those who live in cold climates - has your BP shut down?

[tracy0416]

All 3 of my BP's have shut down. It's below zero here, has been for a while. This is my first winter with BP's and I would guess that if all three are staying in thier warm hides that this is normal.

They all ate 3 weeks ago. I am wondering:

1. Is this normal for them to shut down and do absolutely nothing?
2. When I disturb them, they appear healthy, alert and strong. Should I completely leave them alone or can I take them out once a wekk.
3. Should I feed them less often? Every 3 weeks until they begin to become more active?

Thanks!
Tracy

[2kdime]

Sounds like your ambient room temps are getting too cold. If you can. Get a space heater to keep the area a little warmer. I've got an oil filled heater that keeps the room temps pretty warm.

As long as the temps are good you can feed em every week.

Try to heat the room up a bit. It might help prevent respiratory infections and feeding issues that may show up.

Hope this helps.

[catawhat75]

No shut downs here, never have in all my yrs of being a snake owner (course that is only about 10 yrs). My snake room keeps the same temp yr round. Only tubs that are used for breeding get temps lowered.

[python.princess]

floyd did the first year we had him. he went about a month and a half without eating but was okay otherwise. we moved him to a warmer room and he was back!

[Argentra]

Well, it's not THAT cold here yet, but the apartment has been falling down around 71 for the past two weeks or so. Of course, I have insulation around her tank and a blanket that goes around it at night, and no 'shut down' has been seen. She is spending more time in her dish between the dryness of CO winter and the stupid recurring mites (I think I got a defective can of PAM), but she's just as active at night and bright eyed as always, and still nails her weekly large adult mouse in under two seconds.

[jknudson]

They all ate 3 weeks ago. I am wondering:

1. Is this normal for them to shut down and do absolutely nothing?
2. When I disturb them, they appear healthy, alert and strong. Should I completely leave them alone or can I take them out once a wekk.
3. Should I feed them less often? Every 3 weeks until they begin to become more active?

1. Yes. They should still drink water and pass urates.
2. You should be fine taking them out. Not for extended periods of time, but to clean cages, etc.
3. If they are "shut down" I take that as they aren't feeding...so offering food may not work anyways...? But as the seasonal changes occur the snakes can sense it, as usually will presume feeding.

I live in MN and none of mine has gone off feed as of yet.

[fishmommy]

nope....in fact his feeding response has been getting stronger to the point where I now use a hook when he's in his tank!

I keep my 'snake room' at 74F year round.

[Ironhead]

My boys go off feed every year right around the same time and start back up right around the same time....The room they are in stays the same temp year round. I still offer them the choice to eat every 2 weeks during this time but they have yet to do so.
The first time scared the poo out of me but was told that they would be alright and they came out of it just fine. This will be the 5th year in a row of them going off feed so it does not bother me anymore and they are very healthy balls.