Longest vacation without care?

I'm going to be going to visit my parents for xmas time, and I was wondering how long I'd be able to leave my BP(s) alone without any care? I haven't planned the trip yet, but it will be anywhere from 9-15 days. I feel like a bp can easily go 9 days, but I'm not too sure about 15. The problem I'm going to have is that everyone else I know will also be gone during that time frame...

It shouldn't be a problem as long as you maintain constant temperatures. They can go weeks without eating no problem. The only problem I would worry about is if there is a temp spike/power outage/etc. that might disrupt your heat source. Why can't you take your snake with you?

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Originally Posted by snakehobbyist

Why can't you take your snake with you?

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:colbert::colbert::colbert:

Do you have anyone that can spot clean/check the temps/fill up the water dish?

Someone who can spare a minute for the care of your animals?

Edit: I'm a fool. I didn't read the last sentence before I posted.

AHEM.

I mean, when I went on vacation for 8 days, I put 2 water dishes in my enclosures.

If you need to leave your BP alone for the vacation and cannot find someone to check in on him then the 3 biggest things I can think of to address are making sure

-that each of the enclosure's heating elements are controlled by a quality thermostat (and maybe a redundant back up).

-that each enclosure has a big enough water dish that will not dry out in 15 days (or really even come close to drying out)

-that the enclosures are freshly cleaned before you leave.

And skip feeding the week before you leave so they don't poop all over :rolleyes:

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Twice last year I had to go train for a month at a time. Before I left I made sure that the thermostat was running just fine, that the tanks were clean and that their water dishes were full. The water was empty when I got back, however water being dry for a few days won't hurt the snakes at all.

I have only left mine for seven days at a time. Getting back you couldn't even tell I had been away. I don't think they noticed.

My only suggestion would be about water. If you have the room try to put two sources of water. This way if it fouls up one it will still have a fresh one available. I'm a bit of a boy scout but doing this relieves some of my worry when i leave them.

Doing what the others suggested you should be fine.

As others have said a quality thermostat is key. Herpstats fail in the OFF position in the event of a power problem so you would not have to worry about blistering temps. A few people here have told me that even in a bad scenario where the heat source goes out, the snake will more than likely survive, but be very uncomfortable during that time That is far better than the extreme heat scenario.

I think if you have 2 good sized water bowels full of fresh and do a full enclosure clean before you go, things will be OK. I did a 9 day trip not long ago, and was rewarded with a super feeding response on our return. There was still water in the bowels, and our snake seems to move away from her own waste so there was just some spot cleaning to do.

Maybe others can chime in but I think the main things to have set are:

Thermostat and temps.
Ample water
Clean cage before you go.

We actually fed ours the night before we left. I did think about her while we were gone but the thermostat (Herpstat II) really did lessen the worries.

Good luck.

Ok, thanks! I have a VE-100 thermostat, so I'm not worried about the heating element. I have a friend who might be able to swing by about a week after I go, so that should work out perfectly.

Perfect! Cool friends help a lot. Even a check in and a phone call saying "It's all good" makes a trip a lot more enjoyable and takes away the worry.

if you got your temps and humidity working properly and if you can guarantee them a water supply you can got on a vacation for 3 months for all the snakes care :D .. if they dont feed them they won't poop nor pee .. I have had snakes go off feed for 8 months (in that time she peed like twice) and still remain completely healthy .. there is no no need to worry
enjoy your vacation :)