Brumation? When and how?

[Tila]

Hi everyone! I have a couple of Western Hogs that are approaching their second winter. The male is 76g and the female is 111g. Since last year they were so small Itried to keep them eating but they seemed to take about 6 weeks off of food despite my best efforts. I'm wondering this year if I should brumate them since I am working toward breeding them in future when they are of appropriate size and age.

If I should, how should I go about doing this? I would have to either buy or build a hibernaculum so if people have recommendations on either that would be great! Thanks!

[Tila]

Also, I may have used the wrong term. I am hoping to buy or create something to brumate my snakes indoors, since it seems a hibernaculum may be an outdoor hole in the ground that would certainly kill my pets considering northern Vermont's winter temperatures.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

There is no reason to do this at this point even if they meals.

Until they are ready keep them at a constant temps with a hot spot of 90.

Your females needs to be at least 250 grams to breed so you still have ways to go.

Now once they will be ready well like everything different people, different ways to go about it, some people will cool then to 55/60 for 3 months during the winter, I cool them down for 1 month.

I stop all feeding mid November, move them to my basement the first of December, bring them back up the 1 of January, offer food 5 to 7 days later, feed every 5 days and start pairing once they have had at least 3 to 5 meals.