Sleepy time!!!

[Gregg M]

Ok, I put a pair of hogs down for brumation 3 weeks ago... They are sitting at a cool 54 degrees right now... I checked on them today... Although much slower, they are still somewhat active even at these low temps...

Here is the pair... As soon as they are out of brumation in 5 weeks they will be heated, fed, and then introduced for what I hope to be a productive breeding season...

Male het albino (leopard) hog 57 grams when put in brumation

Female albino 189 grams when put in brumation

 

[KelliH]

Love that albino female.

 

[gitrdone0420]

Those are some hot hogs!
Good luck! =]

 

[Kristi23]

I can't wait to see their babies!

 

[RampantReptiles]

Very nice! What species of hogs are these?

My X had tricolor hogs that I thought were pretty sweet but that albino definitely rivals them!

 

[Gregg M]

Thanks everyone...
These are Western Hogs... Heterodon nasicus...

Tricolors are cool but I do favor Westerns and Mexicans over them... I am also really diggin the Southern Hogs as well... If all goes as planned, I will be getting a pair of Southerns from Brad Chambers this season...

Brumation can be a stressful time for some keepers and new breeders but these animals are built for it and do very well during brumation providing you did everything needed before putting them down...

Like I said, it is crazy to see that they are active even at temps as low as 54 degrees... It is proof that even during brumation, reptiles never really sleep the winter away...

 

[Shadraak]

so what would be a good way to keep them in brumation? i do have a closet that might get that low but i'm not sure, just incase curious on how to get it down that cold without putting in a swamp cooler or something in there cause i dont really wanna do that. just curious for later, as i'm dying to get a few hogs

 

[thestack510]

Good luck with them in the future, Gregg.

 

[Gregg M]

so what would be a good way to keep them in brumation? i do have a closet that might get that low but i'm not sure, just incase curious on how to get it down that cold without putting in a swamp cooler or something in there cause i dont really wanna do that. just curious for later, as i'm dying to get a few hogs

I use a basement... It stays at a pretty constant temp through the winter... It only drops to 54 degrees no matter how cold it is outside... It will gradually warm up starting in early spring...

In my opinion, a closet will not be a good choice... You need a draft free environment that stays pretty constant for a long period of time...

If you do not brumate below a certain temperature, it can result in your animal either being very sick or dieing... If you have no experience wth brumating reptiles, it is not something you should do without consulting someone who has done it many times over with no issues...

 

[paulnj]

They are still looking great! See you this weekend hognose buddies

 

[Gregg M]

Update...

Both are doing GREAT sitting at about 57 degrees at this point... 2 more weeks until I bring them up from the basement... By then the temps in the basement will be in the 60's...

 

[paulnj]

I seen all those awesome hogs this past weekend. 2010 is going to be insane for squamata concepts!

 

[dudders]

I love that albino female!