Miami male; hybernating or not?

My supposed to be male adult Miami only ate 1 f/t fuzzie since september 30, he doesn't show any interest in the livin' mice he was used to at his former owner. When I got him, I put him with my emoryi female, but it seemed to stress her a bit because she refueed a meal so I separated them. She ate again but he doesn't and he's not active at all during daytimes. I spoke to the former owner of the emoryi about it when I got my new yellow rat from him, he thinks perhaps the Miami 'decided' to stop feeding because of meeting the female emoryi. The former owner of the Miami told me he did have periods of refusing meals with her too, but there were no females around. I'm thinking of hybernating him now, but I've just noticed that our 'basement shed' is quite warm because it's the first floor of our building and heating pipes are everywhere. I cannot provide a cool place. Do you think just putting off the lightbulb during the day so temps in the cage stay at room temp level during day and night and no feeding wil provide a sufficient hybernation period? Or would that just confuse the Miami? Would his system be too active to receive no food? What would you guys recommend to do with him? I want to breed him in spring. Should I try feeding him every week and keeping the lights/warmth on like now or just leave him for liek 2 months with no light, extra warmth or food?

Another question; what's more important for a good breeding result; hybernating the male or the female?

How old is your male? Judging from the fact that it's only on fuzzies, it sounds young. If it's not an adult, it's not recommended that you brumate him. Judging from his behavior, I would say that it's not breeding mode that put him off food. They usually become quite active and will crawl around the viv constantly looking for a female. You probably should have quarantined the new animal when you got it and not put it in with your established animals. Males and females should be kept apart anyway to avoid an early breeding of a female that's not fit to breed. You end up with egg-binding. If you're planning on breeding the female you should also brumate her. She needs to be at least 3 years old, and at least 300 grams before doing so though. It's also recommended that you not feed them for at least 3 weeks before beginning brumation so that you don't have food left in the stomach. I'm not sure just turning off the heat will bring temps down low enough if your house is heated. My snakes do pretty good in the viv even on the cool side when it sits in the low 70's. You'd probably have to bring it down a little more. If you use the search function, you'll find more information on brumation. Just put the word brumation in there and see what you get. I suspect you'll end up with about a million threads, or you can go to the breeding section and look at the old threads there. Many people are starting brumating now, so there's bound to be questions there on it.

Hi Meg, the guy is not on fuzzies, he jst ate a fuzzie I had left and offered him, but refused to eat anything else.

I know putting them together is not the best method, but I ha to buy the guy, he was in a far too small and very dirty viv at the former owner so I guess he was better off any way. I separated them after about 1,5 weeks because the didn't look happy with the situation to me. I do have corns seeming ok with being together in their big vivs; eating, pooping, shedding, works out very well. The one that does have a shedding problem is my taeniura ssp, kept all alone.... but that's another story. Tnx for you reply!

This is the Miami guy..... big enough to breed I think The ladie I want him to breed him with is an adult emoryi, see the other pic, she's laid eggs a couple of years before...

What a great looking Miami! I think I remember you having posted that picture before. Definitely is large enough to brumate, but make sure there's nothing wrong with him before you do. The lack of activity makes me wonder. My male never stopped roaming the whole 3 months he went off food at breeding season. That was in late Jan. though. It's not the typical time for them to go off food for mating season.

Yeah, I've posted it before, tnx, I love him too but am a little worried indeed.... allthough the former owner told me he had non-feeding periods... but I've noticed she has not been really observative or really interested in the Miami when he was with her. Allso obvious by keeping him in a very small and dirty viv... I don't feel like asking her more about his behaviour then.

Yeah, it's a good thing you got him. Hopefully, he didn't end up getting some kind of bacterial infection from being in less than sanitary conditions. Is there a reptile vet you can take him to and get a fecal done?

I've heard form a breeder in the area there's one close to me, but the guy doesn't poo 'cause he doesn't eat.... but tnx for the advice!

He seems very healthy when looking at his skin, and he did eat with the fomer owner so I just hope it's just a weird 'decision' he made... When handled he slithers around, flickering his tongue.... should his condition become a problem I'll surely take him too the vet!

Mine didn't eat for 3 months and he still had periodic poop, so you'd be surprised at what comes out even after they haven't eaten in a while.

I don't remember mine pooping... I've got him for about 3 weeks now!