Bulb burned out last night!

Hi, this is my first post here. I'm also a new BP owner by three days. Unfortunately it's not off to a good start. Last night the black light I had over the cage burned out! This morning the temp was at a frightening 60 deg! I don't know how long it was out, could have been all night. I was extremely pissed because it was a new bulb, and the snake was even more pissed. Now I'm concerned about the snake's health. How long can they go in 60 degree temperature? Is he going to catch cold? This can't be good...

Thanks,
Steve

Go get a heat emitter, they are made of ceramic. They can be a bit pricey, but from personal experience, they last a long time making them worth what you spend for them. I am still using one that I bought over 2 years ago, and it is still putting out the heat as well as it did brand new. I quit using bulbs because they do burn out rather quickly, in fact, like you, I have bought brand new ones and put them in, and had then quit on me within a week or so. Is the bulb you had burn out your snakes only heat source? If so, you will need more than just that, even with a heat emitter. I have UTH also because the heat emitter wont do it by itself in my own set up.

60 degrees is very bad. You need to have an under the tank heating source, preferably attached to a thermostat or dimmer - so you don't burn your snake either. I would get that done yesterday. You'll end up with one sick/dead snake if the temps stay that way for any length of time. The sooner the better! :)

Snakes require the heat to digest their meals, so no heat = no eat too. I would get your temps up to 92 hot side and 82 on the cool side. Measure temps with a digital thermometer and keep the temps stable!! The enviroment is so very important with an ectothermic animal.

As far as my concerns about the snake's health after being in such low temp for who knows how long, I'm quite a bit worried. I mean, that's too cold for me and I can produce my own heat. What physical and behavioral observations do I need to make? How soon would any illness be evident? Not eating seems to be a common bp response, but I haven't even attempted to feed him yet, only having him/her for three days.
..expecting the worst. -Steve

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Originally Posted by mr.litho

As far as my concerns about the snake's health after being in such low temp for who knows how long, I'm quite a bit worried. I mean, that's too cold for me and I can produce my own heat. What physical and behavioral observations do I need to make? How soon would any illness be evident? Not eating seems to be a common bp response, but I haven't even attempted to feed him yet, only having him/her for three days.
..expecting the worst. -Steve

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I wouldn't expect the worst yet. Just follow the advice given by everyone so far, get an undertank heating source with a rheostat or a thermostat and get the temps up to where they should be. I dont use overhead heating with my BPs. It may heat them but it dries out the cage which you dont want either. Incidentally, how did it get down to 60 in your house in the summer? That is extremely low. Are you sure you got an accurate reading? What kind of thermometer did you test with?

Depends on where he lives Jamie. Our furnace kicked on this morning here in northern Michigan.


~~Jo~~

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Depends on where he lives Jamie. Our furnace kicked on this morning here in northern Michigan.


~~Jo~~

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Really!? Wow, I forget about that stuff being here in Florida. :)

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Depends on where he lives Jamie. Our furnace kicked on this morning here in northern Michigan.


~~Jo~~

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True enough Jo, it was a brisk 56 degrees here in Brockport, New York last nite & into early this morning.

I'm so jealous! We only dip into the 70s at night. I would love to be able to break out the pants! I walk my son to and from school everyday and it's still so hot here I have to take two showers a day.

I'm in Portland, OR. It's about that time of year when the days average about 80 deg F and drops to about 50 at night. When it hits 90, people start belly aching about the heat and how they miss the rain. (Having grown up in CA, I'd love 90 deg all year round!).