Diamond Python Help... winter behaviour

[ponies]

Hi all,

This is my first winter with my diamond python, Shulgin. He is about 4yo.

As recommended by most, I have stopped feeding him (mid April) and have lowered the temps for the winter months. His enclosure is now sitting at normal room temp (low 20's during the day and mid 10's at night) but I have noticed over the last week or two he has become a LOT more active than usual...

Where during the warmer months he was happy to sit curled up on his logs, he is now spending most of his time wandering about the tank and stretching up and around - he almost never stays still...

Is this normal? Aren't they supposed to curl up and have a rest during the cold??

I still have the UV fluro light coming on during daylight hours, should this stop during winter? I really don't want to screw up and have a dead diamond...

Thanks

 

[Widdup]

He if it is a he is most probably displaying natural behaviour, of a normal male snake in the wild, at this time of year which in the cooler months is when they breed his sexual activity is triggered by the cooler temperatures and the shorter days he is most probably hunting around his cage looking for a girl. You don’t have to cool them in winter my two diamonds still have a 30 degree spot in there tank and are still readily eating but it’s entirely up to you.

 

[longqi]

Hes probably also hungry
Toss him a rat
If he scoffs it pump up his temp a bit to aid digestion
In the wild diamonds slow down on feeding but dont stop completely
Even in frosty days you find them hunting a bit of sunlight to warm up in
If you not planning on breeding him just warm him up a bit for a few hours a day
If you are breeding he sounds like hes pretty frisky so drop the female in

 

[ponies]

Well he definitely seems to be doing a LOT of searching at the moment.... doesn't feeding them go against the whole 'winter hibernation' theory though???

 

[pythrulz]

If you maintain proper temps and not breeding your snake it will keep feeding through winter

 

[Bez84]

I keep daytime temps the same as i would in summer, only night time temps change and the enclosures can get down to 10 degrees or so...
I dont feed in winter and as long as the snake isnt skinny then they handle it just fine..
My diamonds naturally start refusing food around start of may and then start eating again september or so..
They are still active some days they will stay in there hide box others they will cruise there enclosures and bask in the heat..
Diamonds brumate not hibernate...

 

[MR_IAN_DAVO]

Well he definitely seems to be doing a LOT of searching at the moment.... doesn't feeding them go against the whole 'winter hibernation' theory though???

A lot will depend on how well they are fed before cooling.
The other thing that I would say is the daytime temp, at least for a few hours in the morning should still get to high 20s to low 30s celcius & let the night temp come way back low.

Won't hurt if he wants a feed so long as you give enough warmth at a hot spot during the day or morning.

Cheers
Ian