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Long term effects of burmating in captivity
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by Ptk on March 2, 2009
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Does anyone have any data or research on the long term effects of captive snakes not burmating yearly?
I know every keeper probably has an oppinion on this and most seem to agree this might have an effect on breeding cycles but what about the overall health, stress and longevity of the animal?
Didnt know if anyone has ever performed a study or even in their private collection noticed a pattern?
Thanks!
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RE: Long term effects of burmating in captivity
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by Cro on March 2, 2009
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Patrick, this is a very interesting topic. If we assume that a snake has fed well during the warmer part of the year, and is healthy, then when it goes into brumation, it goes into a sort of suspended animation, and for all practicle purposes, is not aging during that time, or, at least, the aging process should be greatly slowed down. During that time, cell division is minimal. The snake will use some of its body resources during brumation, and is also subject to dangers like freezing temperatures.
When an animal is active, it will continue to have cell divisions going on, and with each division, the telomeres shorten. This can only happen a certain number of times, then the life span of the animal is used up.
If a animal that is programed by nature to brumate is kept at warm temperatures in captivity, and continues to feed, it will continue to grow, and will have cell divisions, and will use up its lifespan quicker that if it took time out for hibernation each year.
Some unscrupilous reptile dealers and herpers have tried to "push" snakes up to breeding size quickly by power feeding them. While it might accomplish early breeding, it usually results in shorter lifespans for those snakes. Again, that is because the rapid growth and cell division is using up the finite number of times that cells can devide before that ability is used up.
Hope this helps.
Best Regards
John Z
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RE: Long term effects of burmating in captivity
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by agkistrodude on March 3, 2009
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Patrick, I have one snake, a female A.c.contortrix, that is 20 years old this year. Never have I cooled her down for burmation. I've never "power fed " her either. I just keep her at the same temps year around. But you could set a calendar by her. Every year she goes off feed about the 2nd week of Sept. and she won't eat again until the 1st or 2nd week of March.I have some other snakes that act similarly, but not quite to that extreme, and some that show no sign of burmation at all. Take care, Marty
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RE: Long term effects of burmating in captivity
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by agkistrodude on March 3, 2009
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1 more thing, the A.c.contortrix I mentioned in the above post has also bred several times. Take care, Marty
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RE: Long term effects of burmating in captivity
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by Ptk on March 3, 2009
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Thanks John and Marty,
I have always lowered the ambiant temperature, not necessarily to match exact outside temperatures, but to correspond with them. Inside the enclosure they still have their heated hidebox and their non-heated hidebox. For the most part this has always worked just fine. Even when I raise the ambiant temp back up they all seem to regulate back at their own different times. Ironically the C. contortrix are usually the last to regulate. This might very well be the specific ones I have (2 sometimes 3 at a time, the two I have had for about 10 years now and got them as adults).
Like many on this site I use them for education whenever I can. I have shyed away from several opportunities during winter months in fear that the added activity and stress would be more detrimental, than during warmer months. Which was why I was considering next year not lowering the temps. I wanted to make sure this would not cause any long term negative effects.
If this would cause a shorten lifespan, then I wont fix what's not broke and just keep doing what I have been. Thanks for the advice!!
~ PTK
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