Snake Defecation Inquiry

If you have ever been outside in the sun in 90-100* weather then you know you can easily get sunburned. If a snake is sitting under a 100* light 24/7 it can also get burned.

Ya seriously..lets all advocate that it is alright for new pet owners who come here looking for advice that it is perfectly alright for them to keep there ball pythons hot spot at 100 degrees. Lets see how many threads are made shouting out about how there new pet is totally " happy and healthy" or " why is my snake sick..why is my snakes belly bright red...why is my snake staying on the cold side..etc etc"

OP you have gotten some good advice...get the probe thermometers and get an accurate reading. Might even be wise to ditch the light and just keep an undertank heater for the hot spot. I hope you arent using both, that would be way too hot imo. Goodluck, keep us updated.

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Originally Posted by Patrick Long

I really dont know if that is true...given that is way hotter than I keep my snakes.....thats not unheard of to get that hot in Africa....LOL


It is right now.....7:45 in ghana....and already 81F out........be real.

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For short periods of time, I would agree with you (although 100 is only 6 degrees over the recommended 94). Keep in mind that these snakes are primarily nocturnal and do normally hide through the hottest parts of the day.

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Originally Posted by demjor19

Keep in mind that these snakes are primarily nocturnal and do normally hide through the hottest parts of the day.

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Oh I didnt know that....thank you.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

If you have ever been outside in the sun in 90-100* weather then you know you can easily get sunburned.

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Well lets take a look at WHY we get sunburned first....I will then explain how snake skin is DIFFERENT than human skin.


When you get burned...sunburn rather...synthesis of different proteins and enzymes start to happen in your skin....in your HUMAN skin...not in your SNAKE skin.

The effects of these proteins, notably prostaglandins and cytokines dilates the blood vessels thus giving you your 'redness' and pain.




Now lets talk about skin.......

HUMAN SKIN

http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb...4-6A747F52.gif

Mammals have 3 layers of skin.....Epidermis, dermis, and they hypodermis. Blood vessels are diffused by the dermis to regulate heat with conjunction of the epidermis.

REPTILE SKIN

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.ed....jpg/view.html

In reptiles...there are only TWO layers......dermis and epidermis. Now although there are only two layers...a reptiles epidermis is made up of SEVEN...yes seven layers of "strata"...look it up.

The synthesis of D3...well the start of the synthesis is from the cholesterol precursor yadda yadda yadda formed UV LIGHT

Reptile skin is constantly changing.....all seven layers are always "on the move" to the top....not like our skin where it is continually flaking off of the top layer.



I wont go into nocturnal species of reptiles as their skin differs GREATLY. Yes BP's are nocturnal...but NO they do NOT have nocturnal reptile skin......

There is a difference between sitting on a spot that is 100 degress and sitting outside in the sun when the ambient temperature is 100 degrees.
Kinda like putting your hand on a burner on the stove, compared to sitting outside in the sun during a heat wave.

You are correct there is a difference.

But I think your a bit confused.




Lets say that its 99F outside. (Ambient)

If you were to go measure the ground temperature....it would be warmer. (Spot)

But if you dig deeper...it will cool down....

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Originally Posted by starrlamia

Kinda like putting your hand on a burner on the stove, compared to sitting outside in the sun during a heat wave.

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Hm. Tested the temp of a burner today (still playing with my bolometer, guys!) and it was off the scale. Means the temp of that burner was >450F.
:P

Yeah household stove is 2000 to 2100 F

And I've been biting my tongue about this but radiant heat from the sun is not why you get sunburned. Sunburn is caused by UV light.

(back to sitting on my hands)