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How cold is TOO cold for brumation?

Drewby07

Drewby07

curiocreatures.com
So I have been planning to put my brumating animals in my unheated attic to brumate for the winter. They are in their tubs off of their heat awaiting moving to the attic. I've kept a min/max thermometer up there for about 2 weeks now and it's gotten all the way down to 39°f......is that TOO cold? It's kinda scary to me that it gets that close to freezing....what do you guys think? It's gunna be even colder later in another month or so!
 
I was once advised that anything below 50 F is taking a risk, so I'd tend to think that 39 wouldn't be acceptable.


Dale
 
Should be fine, as long as it doesn't get below freezing for very long. I wish I could cool that low.
 
I mean...logic would dictate that anything above freezing would be ok...but I dunno. I have the option to set up a heater on a digital thermostat that will keep the area above a set temp....I just need to know what to set it to....maybe 40?
 
Drewby07 said:
I mean...logic would dictate that anything above freezing would be ok...but I dunno. I have the option to set up a heater on a digital thermostat that will keep the area above a set temp....I just need to know what to set it to....maybe 40?
Click to expand...

They should be fine, but if you want set a heater up there, just make sure that you are using a quality thermostat. Do not use a sub-par thermostat, not saying you will cook them if you do, but it will be more likely to happen. Also, I would prolly set it at about 45.
 
Is that 39 degree reading a low, or a more long-term temp? This is my first year to brumate anything, but Kathy Love's book says to "aim for a cool season in the 45-65" degrees Fahrenheit range. As for low temps, it says "the thermometer also dips into the upper 30s F on a few nights most winters, with no detrimental effects."

I'd personally be nervous if the temp was a steady 39, but wouldn't worry if it happened on occasion. Good luck!
 
I don't think it's a STEADY 39....but it seems to stay in the low 40s most of the time up there.

I think I could possibly rig up a temperature controller to a heater...and enclose the whole thing in a makeshift "tent" to keep the heat in....and keep it from freezing that way....
 
I would keep a close watch on the outside temps since the attic temp will rise and fall with the outdoor temps.
 
Actually I've revised my plan and am going to keep them in the unheated laundry room. It gets down into the 50s in there but there is NO chance of freezing...
 
Exactly....they are already a couple weeks late going under just because I was scared I'd freeze them...lol.

They are snoozing away in laundry room bliss!
 
I'm a newbie to this brumation business, too. Even though I've read the books, and been reassured by the experienced folks, it just feels WEIRD to leave one in a dark cold closet! Hopefully our snakes will reward our jitters with healthy clutches next year!
 
I put them in the attic with the thermostat set at 50* Any colder than that and you better leave them a scarf and a hot chocolate.
 
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