Can I avoid brumating my hognoses?

[jonathon]

My wife would like to avoid brumating her hog this winter, and I would as well.

Is there any way I can do this without endangering their health? I've never brumated a snake before, and the first snake I ever had was a hognose that died from overheating while I was trying to get the temp right the first winter I had him. I've learned a lot since then, but I still would like to avoid cooling these hognoses if possible.

	Hog Island Boa hogg

[Ghroller]

Theres really no reason to unless you're going to be breeding

[jonathon]

So is there anything special I have to do over the winter? Is it true I need to keep 12 hours of light along with 80 degrees of heat?

[Ghroller]

Nope just keep the temps where they need to be. and yes they do need a day/night cycle if you're using a normal basking bulb. Or you can just use a nighttime bulb all the time.


My advice is to go on google and search Hognose Caresheets and read several of them to get a good general overview of what their husbandry needs are.

[jonathon]

So the red bulb overnight won't be a problem as long as the temperature is ok?

[sjt1985]

Right

[telefrag]

how cool does your house get? is it soo cool that you need a night time heat source?

It is generally good for snakes to have a difference in the Day time high, and night time low temps.

At least im a firm believer in it.

[jonathon]

We like to let it cool down at night. The apartment, that is. It's in an old house on the third floor. I just have a UTH under half the cage at the moment, but I also have a red bulb lamp on the warm side that I am experimenting with.

	Under Tank Heater Under Tank Heater