taking snakes outside...

how long is long enough for a snake to soak up some sun outside?

If you do a search on taking your snakes outside, you will find a few good threads on the topic :)

I wouldn't keep the snake in direct sunlight for too long if you plan on going outside with your animal. The sun can get pretty hot and remember, these guys are nocturnal so they don't ever naturally lay out in the hot sun.

As long as the temperatures aren't too high or too low you should be fine for 30 minutes or so.

If you have a temp gun, that would be a great way to make sure your snake isn't getting too hot or too cold.

well if their terrariums need to be 80-90 degrees, then its safe to assume i can take the snake outside when its 80-90 degrees out right?

Just remember that's ambient air temperature, direct sunlight will be hotter.

If we are out walking with our guys they let us know when they have had enough - much like a kid that gets feisty when he doesn't get his way. The walks we go on here with them (southern AZ) during the spring and fall are much longer with them than during the summer months. It's just way to hot for them for any extended amount of time.

If you are outside on a 90* day, the air is 90* but you could very well cook an egg on the side walk.

oh well i just thought...ok hm. what temps then? 80 degrees? im in south carolina so our summers are more humid then they are hot.

I would say anywhere in the 80's would be fine. Just try to keep the snake out of direct sunlight for too long.

ok i could put 1/2 of the pen in the shade & 1/2 in the sun, that way the snake can move to where it wants to be, huh? if i notice it spending more time in the shade then i'll know its time to bring it in...sound good?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

ok i could put 1/2 of the pen in the shade & 1/2 in the sun, that way the snake can move to where it wants to be, huh? if i notice it spending more time in the shade then i'll know its time to bring it in...sound good?

---

well, they don't have the same kind of temperature sensors that we do, so they don't always notice if its too hot. Though they may just head into the darkness because being in the open makes them vulnerable.

oh...dangit every idea i come up with is getting shot down lol.

what type of non venomous snakes/ lizards like to be outside in the sun?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

oh...dangit every idea i come up with is getting shot down lol.

---

I think this whole idea is being over-thought here. Just use a little common sense. Don't set the snake down on anything like asphalt or concrete or metal that has been sitting in direct sun for a long time. It's not a 90 degree day that cooks an egg...it's the heat the asphalt has been absorbing and building up. You can't cook the same egg on the grass. :P

It's ok to set the snake in the grass...shade or sun...for a few minutes, like for a photo session or something like that. Beyond that, there's really no point to it. They don't need to "soak up sunlight" like a lot of lizards or other reptiles might. And they're not like dogs that you can just let loose in the backyard for some playtime and then bring them back in when they're done.

If you want to take your snake out for pictures, or for whatever other reason you might have...it's ok. Just be careful...never let them out of your control or your sight for even a moment...it will astonish you how FAST they can suddenly move and disappear. Any small hole or opening will be an almost certain invitation for them to explore and disappear into.

So just....be careful!

Seeing as ball pythons are nocturnal, they do not need to soak up any sun. :)

To be honest they really do not need to "get some sun".

ok thanks judy. i was planning on supervising the time outside anyways even though the snake would be safe inside a homemade pen.

You'll be fine. It's not like all of a sudden it'll flop over on it's back with it's tongue hanging out.

As I mentioned above when ours are out they are constantly being held, so they rely on us to regulate their exposure since they can't crawl into shade. Like Kaorte states, just because a snake heads towards shade doesn't mean it's too hot, or vice-versa. Just use common sense and you'll be fine, and so will the snake. Just make sure you never turn your back on 'em. As slow as they seem to move they seem also to be able to disappear in a heartbeat! And then you are dealing with instant panic.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JLC

I think this whole idea is being over-thought here. Just use a little common sense.

---

Agreed.

:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

.... even though the snake would be safe inside a homemade pen.

---

I'm insanely curious about a "homemade pen" that would be safe to leave a ball python (or any other snake for that matter) in outdoors. :) Please elaborate!

ok im super upset now. i was just on ssnakess.com, another forum site, & posted a question about this outdoor pen that i want to build. someone made a snyde comment about how many threads i post. i was on every day, as i am here, & here, i dont get those kind of remarks.
thanks to everyone here for your unending patience. i always ask questions, especially when i have what seem like cool ideas. i'd rather ask a question about my idea then do it & possibly hurt or kill my snake because i didnt throw the idea out there first...i dont know, im just really upset.

ask away! As long as you don't have an agenda, I don't think people will get upset with you. I know some frequent posters annoy me, but not the ones with legitimate concerns and questions that aren't loaded.

wesleytf- what do you mean by an agenda? also what do you mean by questions that are loaded? im fairly new here so...yeah.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

what type of non venomous snakes/ lizards like to be outside in the sun?

---

Bearded Dragons:D
Uromastyx
Chuckwallas
Some monitor lizards & tegus (if they don't decide to run off:P)

Kingsnakes
Corn snakes
Garter snakes
Ribbon snakes
Etc. etc. etc.

Just think of the snakes that will normally bask outside instead of roam around at night.

Make sure the temps aren't too hot though like Kaorte said, you don't wanna cook your snake.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

wesleytf- what do you mean by an agenda? also what do you mean by questions that are loaded? im fairly new here so...yeah.

---

He's referring to people who aren't asking questions to learn...but rather are creating posts and threads with the intent to simply argue or try to force their views on other people. Some of those may be posed as "innocent questions" but are "loaded" meaning they are intended to start an argument or otherwise try to spin the discussion to skew it toward the person's particular point of view.

You're not in any danger of doing any of that, so far as I can see! :gj:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

ok im super upset now. i was just on ssnakess.com, another forum site, & posted a question about this outdoor pen that i want to build. someone made a snyde comment about how many threads i post. i was on every day, as i am here, & here, i dont get those kind of remarks.
thanks to everyone here for your unending patience. i always ask questions, especially when i have what seem like cool ideas. i'd rather ask a question about my idea then do it & possibly hurt or kill my snake because i didnt throw the idea out there first...i dont know, im just really upset.

---

Honestly, it's just the internet. Don't let them e-hurt your feelings.

i've been asked by another member to not post anymore questions on ssnakess.com. fine by me, this forum is more geared towards ball pythons anyways, plus the breeder i will be buying my snake from is here as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

i've been asked by another member to not post anymore questions on ssnakess.com. fine by me, this forum is more geared towards ball pythons anyways, plus the breeder i will be buying my snake from is here as well.

---

Post away. I, as well as most other members, don't mind to answer questions if we know the answers. Some may even answer if they do not. :rofl:

BTW, a loaded question is a question asked with the intent of extracting a specific answer. Loaded questions almost make it impossible to answer anything other than what the person asking wants the answer to be.

thanks

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

thanks

---

No problem.

Wow. I would stick to this forum if I where you. What's the point of a forum like this if you can't ask questions? Asking questions and getting told no is much preferable to the alternative. I think it's safe to say you can "flood" the forums here all you want, you're asking legitimate questions that can be easily answered by many people here.

Anyways, I'd agree with the above for the most part. Most snakes do not need sunlight at all, just heat. If you want a basking animal, go for a lizard of some kind. I bring my BPs out for sun once in a while, but mostly it's just to take pictures or show some curious neighbor kids or friends. Good luck :)


Edit: Oh, and I noticed one of your questions got wrongly answered on the other site. The probe to a thermoSTAT goes directly in the middle of the uth, not the entire tank. The thermoMETERs probes go one on the hot side, one on the cool. :)

So I was reading that thread you were referring to over at ssnakess.com.

I have to agree they were a little rude, but they did have a point. First figure out the indoor enclosure. Once the snakes is well established you can work on taking it outside.

If you want some kind of animal that is going to get a lot of use out of an outdoor pen, then perhaps a bunny would be a better choice? Lol, no offense.

Just think about it though. Ball pythons are nocturnal animals. They are probably going to be stressed by being outside in the bright sun (even if there is a shady spot) so bringing them outside regularly is not ideal for their health and well being.

Now there is nothing wrong with bringing your snake outside from time to time, but it should not be made into a routine. I think the money you plan on using for this snake pen could go towards a great enclosure for this animal. Trust me, you will want that extra money once you start getting its home setup. I find that generally fist time snake owners buy a plethora of things they don't need and end up needing to buy expensive things that they absolutely DO need.

Please don't feel afraid to ask questions here. We are all wiling to help and answer any and all questions. Sometimes the answers you will receive will not be what you are looking for though and this is just part of how things work. Take everything said on the forums, and the internet in general, with a grain of salt!

Oh god...I am reading more of your threads. They are giving you a lot of crappy information. I would just disregard anything they have said to you so far and ask again here XD.

ive been going back & forth double checking my responses on both forums, comparing the info ive gotten & the info ive gotten on both i've double checked with the breeder i plan to buy my snake from so...in a nutshell the info im getting here, is more legit the what ive received on ssnakess.com.
ive abandoned the idea for an outdoor pen due to all the negative feedback i've gotten about it. no biggie, it was just an idea.

Wow! Kaorte is right! They sure are giving you some really bad advice! I just read all of the respones you got on the other forum and it is really bad! Just stick with listening to people from this forum and you will be just fine. ;)

what exactly are you guys seeing as specifically being the bad advice? ive asked q's about terrarium setup & q's about substrate.
i need to know what you guys are saying is the bad advice so i can change some of my info if needed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

what exactly are you guys seeing as specifically being the bad advice? ive asked q's about terrarium setup & q's about substrate.
i need to know what you guys are saying is the bad advice so i can change some of my info if needed.

---

Well, the probe placement is a big one. While that probe placement might work for lizards or something, it is definitely not where you want to put it for a ball python. You want to put your thermostat probe directly on the UTH on the bottom of the tank. Aluminum tape works well for adhering it.

For raising the tank, just use the little rubber feet that come with the UTH. I know for a fact that the zoomed UTHs come with them.

The best substrates for ball pythons are paper towels, newspaper, cypress mulch, or aspen. I wouldn't really go for any of that jungle bedding stuff. Its hard to spot defecation and pee just gets lost in it.

If you want to use a specific cleaner, I would go with chlorhexadine. www.reptilebasics.com carries it. Otherwise, a 10% bleach solution or plain old soap and water works well. I wouldn't buy any "reptile cleaner". Just sounds like a ripoff to me.

Tap water is just fine for your snake. You can give it bottled water if you want, but there is nothing wrong with the water straight from your tap :)

If you want to feed live, it is going to be a little more expensive. Especially since you can only get feeders from a pet store. I would try and find a local rat breeder whom you can get live prey from really cheap.

I know you said you don't want to keep frozen feeders in with the meat you eat but honestly, it is really not a big deal at all. I keep mine in ziploc bags and then put them in an opaque plastic bag so you can't see what is in them. Its not like you are putting a rat in the same bag as the meat you eat...There is nothing to worry about in terms of germs. www.reptilebasics.com has some feeding tongs I believe. Those people saying that feeding your snake live is risky are full of crap. There are plenty of people who only feed live to their large collections and have only had a handful of scratches and bites.

In all honesty, if you breed rats with only one snake, you are going to have way too many rats that are either too large or too small for your animal. There will be a point where you will have to kill them off when they are a certain age so that your snake can eat them. Now while you think it is more cost effective it probably won't be. A couple of mice from the pet store every month is about....maybe $10? Raising feeders means you need to get a seperate enclosure, do bedding changes twice a week, and feed and water these animals. In my opinion, it is not worth the cost if you only have one snake.



Thats just some of the stuff that stuck out to me from the other threads. Lol have fun reading that book! hahaha

ok thanks so much for your input. all that was very helpful.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kaorte

If you do a search on taking your snakes outside, you will find a few good threads on the topic :)

I wouldn't keep the snake in direct sunlight for too long if you plan on going outside with your animal. The sun can get pretty hot and remember, these guys are nocturnal so they don't ever naturally lay out in the hot sun.

As long as the temperatures aren't too high or too low you should be fine for 30 minutes or so.

If you have a temp gun, that would be a great way to make sure your snake isn't getting too hot or too cold.

---

Goodness Girl do you always chase after your snakes with thermometers!

A bit of time outside is fine. Moderate temps in the shade for a moderate amount of time. I wouldn't let it run around on the ground. Mites you know.

Mites?

You mean the ones that are native to Asia not the US?

Consider the source people.


dr del

sometimes mine like to be outside. they just wrap around my wrist or my neck and hang out. i dont really let them crawl around but they seem comfortable. i only bring them in the shade or outside for a lil while cuz they sun here is really strong in the summer.

Kaorte: since I was called out my Momma (I'm the "difficult" member on the site she mentioned, though not by name); I felt it my duty to correct some of the lies being spewed about a forum that, though fallen on some hard times over the last few years, am still a contributing member of.
I personally have been around this hobby/business for a while, and call me old-school, ( and I undertand that many people do not agree with me on this (usually the lazy ones)) but I have always found that while forums are a great place to socialize and ask the more obscure or hard-to-find questions, that the onus remains on the keeper to do even a tiny little bit of research on their own. This is quite easily achieved by buying a book or two, or using their public library and picking up a book on the captive husbandry of ball pythons or visiting some great hobbyist and breeder sites and reading.
There is no substitute for a good knowledge-base.

As for the "outdoor faisco":
What happened was, much like here, when she was explained by a few experienced members (myself included) that an outdoor enclosure should not be her priimary focus, as it clearly had become at the time, and explained why, telling here that she should focus her attention on her INDOOR husbandry issues, (which, from experience, will abound when you use a fish cage to house a ball python), before cavorting outside with her hatchling. She proceeded to snub her nose at our suggestions.

Maybe we're a more jaded bunch up north, but when someone comes to a forum, hat in hand, asking questions, and when she doesn't get the answers that she WANTS, to poo poo on the advice given is bad internet manners.
This type of behavior is not condsuive to harbouring friendly, open dialog and knowledge-sharing.

As for bad advice regarding the above question that was also asked here, she posted her question in the General Discussion forum, and nowhere within the bodies of her posts did she mention once that she was inquiring about a ball python setup.
That said, there were a few members who recalled that she was, infact, referring to her August-arriving ball python, and was answered both informatively and appropriately.
My post:

Quote:

---

"Re: terrarium set up q's

Julian, thanks for hopping in here and clearing up some misinformation.
1. You ALWAYS place the probe directly ON the heat source, so that you know and can control the temperature of your animals heat source. If it's not ON the heat source, it is completely USELESS. Some animals will benefit from the other methods mentioned in this thread, NOT ball pythons.
2. When you are designing your enclosure, you need an air gap between your UTH and it's surroundings so as not to build up excessive heat thus eventually causing your trailer to become a smouldering pile of ash with some charred animal and human flesh mixed in. You want your UTH attached to the bottom of the enclosure, but the excess heat needs a way to dissipate. This cannot be achieved by raising the enclosure on a "trapped" riser; you need to allow for a bunch of airflow.
__________________
www.strictlyballs.ca "

---

Just wanted to clarify and clear up a few of the lies, misinformation and gossip that has infected this site.

Mykee, when I made my initial post regarding the information on the other forum, I had just skimmed through the threads.

Since then, I have read every single thread (and all the comments) that she posted and I do agree with nearly everything that was said. The probe placement thing stuck out to me but someone did correct them and all is well :)

No misinformation or gossip has infected this site. This is the only thread in which that forum was mentioned in any sort of negative way.

The OP actually got some of the same info that was eventually given to her on the other forum. I think part of the problem is the OP was posting in the wrong areas and part of the problem was that they were asking some loaded questions.

All is well :) I have been checking on that forum lately. It has a lot of great information but not quite as active as the ball pythons section of this forum.

[shakes head] people these days, i swear!
i have not slandered ssnakess.com like mykee says i did. i was told here that i'd received some bad advice there & was just parroting that. ( except for the remark about mykee's snyde comment made to me a few days ago). other then that i have not sat here saying this & that about ssnakess.com. he sent me a private message saying he posted my comments & sent them to the admins on ssnakess.com & is trying to have me banned based on those so called comments.
whatever...that being said, i am sick & would much rather put my energy into getting well then dealing with the likes of mykee.

For fear of being seen as a troll or instigator, I'll cease and desist this round and round.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JLC

I'm insanely curious about a "homemade pen" that would be safe to leave a ball python (or any other snake for that matter) in outdoors. :) Please elaborate!

---

How about a greenhouse with an automated vent and fan?

Yes, we have one, and yes some of my snakes (not balls) get to use it several times during the year.

I never take mine out to "soak up the sun" as like the others have stated they are nocturnal and really have no need to!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rabernet

Seeing as ball pythons are nocturnal, they do not need to soak up any sun. :)

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by joepythons

To be honest they really do not need to "get some sun".

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrmertz

Agreed.

:)

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

i've been asked by another member to not post anymore questions on ssnakess.com. fine by me, this forum is more geared towards ball pythons anyways, plus the breeder i will be buying my snake from is here as well.

---

Sorry folks, I felt compelled to jump in here. (I moderate the "other forum"). mommanessy247 was NEVER asked to "not ask questions" I even encouraged continued participation in the thread.

We all tried to be informative and helpful, however when the answers were not what mommanessy247 wanted to hear, it went downhill from there.

All the same information is appearing here, I don't want to start a war, so I am going to back off now, but it is not appreciated the things that have been said by Mommanessy247.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by infernalis

Sorry folks, I felt compelled to jump in here. (I moderate the "other forum"). mommanessy247 was NEVER asked to "not ask questions" I even encouraged continued participation in the thread.

We all tried to be informative and helpful, however when the answers were not what mommanessy247 wanted to hear, it went downhill from there.

All the same information is appearing here, I don't want to start a war, so I am going to back off now, but it is not appreciated the things that have been said by Mommanessy247.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mykee

For fear of being seen as a troll or instigator, I'll cease and desist this round and round.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mykee

Kaorte: since I was called out my Momma (I'm the "difficult" member on the site she mentioned, though not by name); I felt it my duty to correct some of the lies being spewed about a forum that, though fallen on some hard times over the last few years, am still a contributing member of.
I personally have been around this hobby/business for a while, and call me old-school, ( and I undertand that many people do not agree with me on this (usually the lazy ones)) but I have always found that while forums are a great place to socialize and ask the more obscure or hard-to-find questions, that the onus remains on the keeper to do even a tiny little bit of research on their own. This is quite easily achieved by buying a book or two, or using their public library and picking up a book on the captive husbandry of ball pythons or visiting some great hobbyist and breeder sites and reading.
There is no substitute for a good knowledge-base.

As for the "outdoor faisco":
What happened was, much like here, when she was explained by a few experienced members (myself included) that an outdoor enclosure should not be her priimary focus, as it clearly had become at the time, and explained why, telling here that she should focus her attention on her INDOOR husbandry issues, (which, from experience, will abound when you use a fish cage to house a ball python), before cavorting outside with her hatchling. She proceeded to snub her nose at our suggestions.

Maybe we're a more jaded bunch up north, but when someone comes to a forum, hat in hand, asking questions, and when she doesn't get the answers that she WANTS, to poo poo on the advice given is bad internet manners.
This type of behavior is not condsuive to harbouring friendly, open dialog and knowledge-sharing.

As for bad advice regarding the above question that was also asked here, she posted her question in the General Discussion forum, and nowhere within the bodies of her posts did she mention once that she was inquiring about a ball python setup.
That said, there were a few members who recalled that she was, infact, referring to her August-arriving ball python, and was answered both informatively and appropriately.
My post:



Just wanted to clarify and clear up a few of the lies, misinformation and gossip that has infected this site.

---

You guys seem to be really offended because your forum was mentioned once in a bad light.
If we went around defending people unhappy with our forum, we'd have a whole new job!

This is not a competition, it's open non-profit internet resource.

What I'm saying is, if someone said something that you don't think is true about someone, don't bring it over to this site as if you are required to come to the ultimate defense of a terrible attack, talk about it privately through e-mails or personal messages. It is possible that the OP was asked to stop asking questions personally, but that's not a forums fault.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

It is possible that the OP was asked to stop asking questions personally, but that's not a forums fault.

---

Thank you!;)

As neither admin or a mod on the other site, I have no personal vested interest, just a loooong time member of ssnakess.com. For whatever reason,I felt the need to defend myself and my fellow posters because I thought it was a cruddy, immature thing for Momma to be doing disrespecting an entire site and it's members how she did.
It lacked class.
Please carry on, this is a great site and certainly worthy of more than some petty cross-forum infection.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mykee

As neither admin or a mod on the other site, I have no personal vested interest, just a loooong time member of ssnakess.com. For whatever reason,I felt the need to defend myself and my fellow posters because I thought it was a cruddy, immature thing for Momma to be doing disrespecting an entire site and it's members how she did.
It lacked class.
Please carry on, this is a great site and certainly worthy of more than some petty cross-forum infection.

---

Agreed. :gj: