Heat Pack Testing Thread.

[JLC]

Does it get any hotter than 92? That is certainly warmer than safety would allow for many species...but doesn't seem that bad for ball pythons. A lot of people keep their warm spots at 92-94. While I do think it's not ideal...I don't think it's necessarily "dangerous" for a ball python to be in a box at 92 for a few hours.

If it goes much hotter than that...then yes...I can see the point. And certainly for some colubrids or delicate geckos, (for instance) that would be way too hot.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Kite--I hadn't seen that before, no. But most of us here are shipping in winter temperatures that are in the 30s or higher. The problem I ran into here is that when you drop the box off, it may be held for hours in a facility at normal room temperatures. This is potentially fatal.

72 hour heat packs do not supposedly exceed 110 F, which is the same temp achieved by 40 hour heat packs, so it shouldn't really make a big difference.

I prefer 72 hour because shipping delays can happen.

[WingedWolfPsion]

JLC, while I did not continue photo recording past 92, yes--the temperature did continue to rise. When I stopped the first time, it was around 93. It's a fair assumption that it could go much higher, considering how quickly it rose to that level.

[Zach]

im gonna do the same exp tomoro and see what 20-40 degrees (depending on the time of day) will do to a heated box

[WingedWolfPsion]

I have a 72 hour heat pack going here. As soon as I can find a configuration that doesn't cook the snake indoors, I'm putting it out on the porch.

[rabernet]

7:30 PM

Experiment 1: Total failure.
This is the most common way people pack animals, and it has shown that it's just plain dangerous. Animals that are shipped this way have probably been subjected to heat stress.

However, most people use 40 hour heat packs, not 72 hour ones. And I don't recall hearing overwhelming reports of heat stress from folks.

It is interesting information though.

[RichsBallPythons]

Well i shall see how hot a 40hr heat pack gets in a 83f room.

Says it will peak at 115 but settle down to a max of 100 surface temp. If it can not reach that in a 83f room then 72hr heat packs are rated differently.

Start time 10:45am est


Once full temps are reached from heat pack i will assemble a box and keep it in the snake room and see temps then.

[RichsBallPythons]

After 5 hours the heat pack in 83f room peaked at 103 sitting on desk. Which Will be perfect for shipping any snake in cold temps.

In the Box Its been holding at 85f on floor which is 79F

[WingedWolfPsion]

Since peaking, now I'm having issues getting the heat pack to actually heat the box properly when it's put outside. It will hold it at about 10 degrees above room temperature indoors, but outdoors, it sinks into the 50s in the box, in 30 degree weather.

I'm thinking that the solution to this may be to activate the heat packs and let them peak before packing the boxes, then put in 2 heat packs to each one.

[RichsBallPythons]

Since peaking, now I'm having issues getting the heat pack to actually heat the box properly when it's put outside. It will hold it at about 10 degrees above room temperature indoors, but outdoors, it sinks into the 50s in the box, in 30 degree weather.

I'm thinking that the solution to this may be to activate the heat packs and let them peak before packing the boxes, then put in 2 heat packs to each one.

I always let the heat packs sit on a table for 3 hours minimum before taping it to the lid of the box.

Using 2 heat packs in very cold temps will help but in 40-60s will cook the snake.

Like i said i just got a snake shipped in mid 30s with 1 40 hr heat pack and it was warm when arrived.