heat

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Originally Posted by speepdaedeesi

remember also these suggested temps can vary, just like the temps out in the normal world. it doesnt have to be precise year round, especially if its good all summer. 3 degrees isnt going to make a huge diff, especially if the hot end is ok. if anything it gives snake even more of a choice on temps to hang out in

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With respect, I disagree. You can't justify having a range of varying temps in captivity by saying "oh, well, it happens in the wild so I guess its ok in captivity too." Your logic there is flawed in that captivity is not the wild.

3 degrees probably isn't a big deal as long as its around the ideal range. I believe he said his cool side was at 77, so 3 degrees plus or minus that can expose the snake to a temperature of 74...not good ANY time of the year.

Snakes in captivity don't like uncertainty...do everything you can to keep your temps as stable as possible...

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

With respect, I disagree. You can't justify having a range of varying temps in captivity by saying "oh, well, it happens in the wild so I guess its ok in captivity too." Your logic there is flawed in that captivity is not the wild.

3 degrees probably isn't a big deal as long as its around the ideal range. I believe he said his cool side was at 77, so 3 degrees plus or minus that can expose the snake to a temperature of 74...not good ANY time of the year.

Snakes in captivity don't like uncertainty...do everything you can to keep your temps as stable as possible...

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Well said... never decide on something your not sure about with "well its like that in the wild" cuz unless your snake is from the wild... he aint gonna be happy. If that the "in the wild" thing worked, we would all have our snakes in our backyards with a fence. (saying you dont like in a snowy place so dont focus on flamming me back with my wording). In a nutshell, get the temps right.

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

It may be easier to get that 3 degrees by warming the entire room, as opposed to adding to the cage setup.

I'm a big believer in space heaters, if you raise the room temperature adequately, your cage heating devices, whether it be a lamp or heat mat, will not have to work as hard to achieve the proper temperature. Otherwise, you get caught up in this neverending cycle of having to make modifications to your cage to keep up with the changing room temperature.

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I really would like to get a space heater, but all i hear is "THEY START FIRES!!!" and if that is true, why would peopel buy them. I really would enjoy having a space heater, but i don't want to endager my animals in anyway. I'm not saying your wrong but I am asking for info. Are they really that dangerous? Are there certain ones that are safer than others? Are there ones that are "fire safe"?

In the wild is in Ghana, Africa in a hole in the ground or termite mound where temps/humidity are stable and warm. Once you have treated snakes with RI(injections) you will relize how important(life or death) proper temps can be. Some are definately more sensitive than others but if you always strive to provide the best enviroments then your animals will be less stressed which equals healthier/ happier and more predictable for feeding and breeding.

I agree that 77 may not be a big deal.

I would consider where (surface vs air) you are measuring the temps and how reliably, what the hot side is, what your temps drop to at night, and how your snake is behaving (eating, where he hangs out in the tank).

You don't have to answer all that here, but if it does get any lower than 77 at any time/spot and your snake is fasting or prefers the warm side, you may need to add another heat source. Heating the room is a good idea, you can also use a bulb or a second heat pad regulated by another thermostat to that lower temp.

On the other hand, if this is only at night and your warm side is still up in the 90s, with no indication of stress in your snake, I wouldn't worry. Ball pythons can grow and thrive in a range of temperatures. Consider the low temps used for breeding.

my python spends daytime in the cooler end comes out at night for a bit then goes back again

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Originally Posted by Sadie

I agree that 77 may not be a big deal.

I would consider where (surface vs air) you are measuring the temps and how reliably, what the hot side is, what your temps drop to at night, and how your snake is behaving (eating, where he hangs out in the tank).

You don't have to answer all that here, but if it does get any lower than 77 at any time/spot and your snake is fasting or prefers the warm side, you may need to add another heat source. Heating the room is a good idea, you can also use a bulb or a second heat pad regulated by another thermostat to that lower temp.

On the other hand, if this is only at night and your warm side is still up in the 90s, with no indication of stress in your snake, I wouldn't worry. Ball pythons can grow and thrive in a range of temperatures. Consider the low temps used for breeding.

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I respectfully TOTALLY disagree. Balls are tropicals. Anything lower than 80 (even if you were doing a nite drop < which isn't necessary > ) is setting your snake up for an RI. They're not designed for the huge temp fluctuations that we may subject them too in captivity.

All the different sites' caresheets will tell you 82-84 cool (NO LOWER than 80) and hot side should be 92-94.

Precious just scared the you-know-whatsis out of me, b/c he sounded like he started getting wheezy......3 pwr outages and a deliberate "turn-off" by the pwr co. all in 4 months really shagged my room temps. I checked his mouth, his glottis was red and sort of swollen and it looked like the start of bubbles....he hadn't eaten since Christmas eve.........:blahblah: :blahblah:....
But taking him to the vet, everything is fine. *WHEW!!*:carrot: :carrot: Glottis is nice healthy pink, not swollen and throat was aaaaaaall clear.

Why take the chance???? Set your habitat up the right way. Room heaters where the oil is contained more often than not have a safety feature that they will auto-off if tipped over. Get the oil contained ones, instead of a heater w/a coil that blows hot air. Less likely for a fire danger....but get your room warmer, and on an accurate thermostat, your UTHs won't have to work as hard, and your temps will be much more stable.

Good luck! :thumbsup:

RuLyn