latastei hibernation

At what temperatures do you hibernate your latastei`s and for how long?

Also, do you think it is important that they start hibernating since their first winter or its better to start hibernating them when they are adult or subadult?

Thanks.

Jaime.

Hello Jaime,
it depend on the origin of the latastei! You know it better than we. You live in Spain. Did you have some from the northern mountain. Areas you have to hibernate them cool. If you have some from the south coast, the don´t need such along and cool periode to hibernate.
One of the most important thinks is the humidity. I have hiobernate the southern form (gaditana) on a dry surface, no water inside the hibernaculum. But I put some wet Towels in the hibernate room to push the humidity a little bit higher. Maby latastei and specialy gaditana don´t need this. But in the same room I have had a lot of europ. Viper species!
Fot gaditana I have make the hibernation time not more than 6-8 weeks. Temp. maby not under 8-10°C. The ,,warmest´´ place in this room.
For latastei from Burgos and some of Gredos I have use the ,,norm´´ Temps that i have had here in the house. Sometimes 4°C to maximum 6°C. Hib. Time 8-12 weeks, it has depend on the winter season here. No Problems when the winter is cool and long, Problems you will have, when in the hibernation time, the temps are rising higher. Then I have mostly stopped the hibernation and after a ,,warm-up´´ time of two weeks I have start the ,,Spring Cyclus´´.
It has worded by nearly all the Vipers I´ve keeped (Vipera, Macrovipera and Montivipera)

I have never start hibernating with there first year. Only when I have had candidates the has not feed by them self or when the are born very late in the year (October). Then I hibernate them also, but not longer than 6 weeks!

Thankyou very much Peter,

The thing is, this is my first winter with my latastei latastei, it is very very nice, nearly white and grey, it comes from the province of Barcelona, in a small area where they resist but are very uncommon. In this area winters are long and hard with freezing temperatures every night, this is why i doubt with a baby i have, to how long make it hibernate or not make him hibernate?
I have no experience with latastei gaditana.

regards,

jaime.

Dear Jaime,
when your snakes feed all the time you offered food, then do not hibernate them. Only when the stopped feeding for more than 3-4 weeks. Maby then is the right time coming. But, when you don´t hibernate them give it a periode of less light. Not the full day 14-15 hours, maby only 10 hours and a little bit less spot light. So, you simulate a ,,warm-winter´´ season.
But, when it feeds - let it out of hibernation. It´s only my opinion.
I can understand that you have a little bit scarry about to hibernate a offspring. In Nature the must hibernate, but not all will surrivive! Thats a fact! You want a 100% secure way, but there isn´t a!

Ok Peter,

what you say is true, so i will follow your advice ...

Do you have latasteis at the moment?

Thankyou

jaime.

No, I don´t keep longer V. latastei.
I´ll keep both ssp. from dif. Locations. Did you are looking for more of them? Maby I can help you with some Spain contacts of mine. Please use PM for more Info.

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