About Snake Temps in general

[DarkSmoke]

ok this is not a problem , but some curiosity which i wish some answer for.

when snakes are kept captive, everyone wants a perfect tempreture.
but when they are in the wild, they depend on the sun to control there tempreture , which varies day by day. yet without a perfect temp, they still survive and also during the night when there is no sun , they survive. i know there are some snakes which live in sand and places like africa which is always warm , but for example in my country tempreture drops at night and heath and sun varies day by day, yet our wild snakes still survive.

so why exacly everyone wants a perfect tempreture? i know that too much hot or too much cold is bad for them , but when its warm, aint it just enough for the snake to control his temp?!

[ballbreeder]

Different breeders/keepers use temperature very differently. Some use an ambient temp of about 85 degrees constantly, and some use varied hot and cold spots, but you're right. Ball pythons can SURVIVE at different extremes. The "perfection" in getting the right temp is due to the health of the animal. Ball pythons typically live longer in captivity than in the wild. This could be attributed to a healthy diet and consistent temps. Nature does have a way of mixing things up, and that's why not "all" of the snakes survive in the wild. As an animal keeper, we have a responsibility to keep them at ideal environments for the best quality of life. Wide variations of temp can lead to respiratory infections, or possibly just shorten life. They can also cause discomfort and irregular ovulation or breeding patterns. It's just a matter of researching the animal and finding out what the "ideal" temps would be. Nature isn't always the best environment. YOU can provide a better one.

[Kaorte]

Well, ball pythons in particular live in rodent burrows and termite mounds. Both of these hold constant temperatures even at night. Ball pythons do not go out during the day and "bask". They stay in hiding all day and come out for food when they are hungry.

It is really just for the health of the animals. They seem to thrive at certain temperatures and rarely get sick. Remember, you are keeping these animals as pets, they are not in the wild so you shouldn't try to replicate their natural habitat. If you did that, you would have to introduce more competition. It just isn't a good environment for a pet snake.

[DarkSmoke]

thanks alot guys especaly ballbreeder. Kaorte you're 100% right but i wasnt being specific to balls but to snakes in general especialy the one the regulate their temp by basking in nature like the wild ones we have in my country but thanks both for this great info

[trott]

Here's a question ? If ball pythons spend most of their time underground in rodent burrows, which i'm not doubting. What are the temps in the burrows underground ? They have to be cool/er and damp right ? If you dig 6 inches in the ground its damp and cool and its not like they live in the desert. Something i always thought about.

[Kaorte]

Here's a question ? If ball pythons spend most of their time underground in rodent burrows, which i'm not doubting. What are the temps in the burrows underground ? They have to be cool/er and damp right ? If you dig 6 inches in the ground its damp and cool and its not like they live in the desert. Something i always thought about.

They live in west Africa, so the ground would be warmer.

[Elise.m]

I remember seeing something on termite mounds on Animal Planet and how they keep a constant degree at all times. It's somewhere in the 80's, I can't remember if it was lower or higher.

It's actually fascinating if you look it up, that these little animals can to that to their mounds.