The trend of lowering temps.

I have read on another forum that some folks are lowering their temps on a permanent basis... Claiming that traditional higher temperatures are not optimal. They say their balls are doing better with the lower temps.... Like a constant 80 - 82 degrees without a hot spot?

Is anybody here familiar with this? I'm not talking about lowering temps for breeding... I am talking about permanently lowering temps

One of the guys I know that breeds doesnt use any heat except in our couple of cold months. His snake room is the same temp as our weather outside till we get constant 70 and belows. He hasnt had any problems and his females have been laying anywhere from 5 to 9 egg clutches.

I've actually tried it for about a 6 month period in the past. Kept a couple of bp's at around 80-84 room temp without any hot spot. I didn't notice any difference in behavior, eating, shedding or pooping. I don't do it now as I don't like to keep the room temp that high all of the time. It's not something that I would run out and say to do or anything, but I didn't see anything negative happening. Again, it was only a 6 month period so not proven over years.
I've seen that many people do that with younger Bloods as well.

If a bigger time breeder does something

People like to accept it as law

I agree with that ^
I'm not about to try to keep mine at constant room temps.


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Originally Posted by 2kdime

If a bigger time breeder does something

People like to accept it as law

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Explain! Sorry... I am slow

Sending you a PM Mike

Very interesting! I would imagine it would be okay... I know many classroom pets are kept under optimal temperatures and have no problems digesting, but personally I think that having a gradient is the best way to go, letting the snake choose what temperature it needs.

Well I guess the nuts and bolts of it are this...

Some of the larger breeders are using a lower permanent overall temperature to try to get some of those high profile hard to breed morphs We all keep reading about breeding. And I guess while they are doing this they are noticing the snakes as a whole (regardless of morph) doing better at the lower temperatures.

During the winter they are provided with 78 degrees on the cool side (this is achieve with a oil filled heater) and 88 on the warm side (The warm side is 88 during the day and 80 at night since I cool down my breeders)

During the warmer months (I live in the South) April to September they are kept at 85 with no hot spot, breeders and hatchlings, and yes females have lay their eggs with no hot spot also.

Because the snake room is a bonus room over the garage it gets hotter than in any other parts of the house. To make it efficient energy wise I chose to work with it rather than fighting it having to run the AC to cool it down to 78 and than having to provide a hot spot.

Works great that our second year in this house and the snake have adjusted to this without any issue.

Now would I recommend that to a beginner barely starting out? No I always recommend optimal setting that I know will help a new owner with their animal limiting feeding issues and behavioral problems, once they understand their animal however they should experiment if they feel comfortable enough to do so and find what works for them.

They can be kept various way what necessary is to find what works for your animals and for yourself.

Just an interesting observation... A top of the line breeder I know told me 4 years ago that he kept his snakes at about 85 degrees... And I remember thinking he was crazy.

I have heard of people doing this. And what they were saying is they found animals that sit at lower temps in the mid to low 80s have an easier time adjusting to the lower night drop temps during the cooling season. Because of this the animals have less chances to suffer resp issues from the lower temps. For example if the animal lives in 83 degree temps then gets dropped to the mid 70s at night for cooling its less of a shock to the system. Animals that sit at 89 to 90 that go down to mid 70s at night have more of a shock to the system. Thats the theory they used. It makes sence i guess but im not changing. And whatever you choose if your system works i wouldnt change it

I live in Barbados, and I've never used heating with my Bp, and she functions just fine. However I can differ from traditional heating since I live in the tropics which has a permanent summer like climate, with a minimal dip in temps around December through January but never enough to require heating.

Never had mites (not even sure there're mites on the island...), No RI, No issues with digestion.... I suggest everyone moves to Barbados!!!!! LOL

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Originally Posted by Peoples

I live in Barbados, and I've never used heating with my Bp, and she functions just fine. However I can differ from traditional heating since I live in the tropics which has a permanent summer like climate, with a minimal dip in temps around December through January but never enough to require heating.

Never had mites (not even sure there're mites on the island...), No RI, No issues with digestion.... I suggest everyone moves to Barbados!!!!! LOL

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I'll be there in about a week. How much room do you have? Im just wondering if I should bring the wife and kids or leave them here?

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Originally Posted by LotsaBalls

I'll be there in about a week. How much room do you have? Im just wondering if I should bring the wife and kids or leave them here?

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Hey bring them all, I've a 3 bedroom house I don't even go to except to cut the lawn and the occasional weekend get-away...

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Just an interesting observation... A top of the line breeder I know told me 4 years ago that he kept his snakes at about 85 degrees... And I remember thinking he was crazy.

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Mike,
I put a few quotes from the Barker's book in another thread I started today (not realizing this was already being discussed). It's called "Re-thinking belly heat" and is in my last comment. It turns out that when a snake is digesting food, it can raise it's temp by 2-3 degrees. So if you figure you keep your room at 84-85, then a snake with a meal in it's belly is raising it's temp anywhere from 86-88 degrees (i.e. basking spot temps)! Who would have thought? I talked to Tracy yesterday and had no idea this was in her book which I've had for a year. Need to do more than just look at the cool pics I guess ;) The Barkers actually keep their room at 81 but since I don't have the sophisticated equipment they have, I will probably set my thermostat a bit higher to be safe. I have the advantage of living in Texas so any higher electric bills during the winter will more than be offset during the warmer months.

Honestly this is why I prefer slightly longer cages than the traditional tub length. Provided the snake has adequate hiding places, they still do quite well, and are able to have a much larger heat gradient.

I do find that our male tends to hand near the cooler end, only going to the hot spot(usually people's whole warm side) after eating or on very cold days. But since he does visit the warmest points, I like to give him the option to go there, as well as many options to cool off.

We have done belly heat before. We have also done constant heat. As far as I can tell they do just fine both ways.