Considering moving my snakes into the garage.

I am considering moving my snakes into the garage for a few reasons. I know it has been done before and I have researched different setups that make it work but I would like some informed opinions on my likely, real world scenario.

1. I live in Florida and have a two car garage with a window but no air conditioning.
2. I have 2 ball pythons and 1 Bredl's python.
3. I am willing to build or buy new enclosures and heat sources.

My garage area is secure but not hermetically sealed so I am worried about ants, bugs, etc... And I am worried about the ambient temperature. I already have fans but would that be enough for air flow and keeping the temperature down?

Please let me know any thoughts, experience or relevant comments, thank you.

Are you planning on opening the garage? Like for use beyond keeping the snakes?

Stick a thermometer out there, and you should be able to figure out how much you'll need to do to bring the ambient down.

Personally I would not unless you plan on building an insulated space inside the garage, as overheating will kill snakes faster than getting too cool will.

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Originally Posted by wnateg

Are you planning on opening the garage? Like for use beyond keeping the snakes?

Stick a thermometer out there, and you should be able to figure out how much you'll need to do to bring the ambient down.

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Yes, the garage is opened a few times a day. I agree, thermometer out tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by rock

Yes, the garage is opened a few times a day. I agree, thermometer out tomorrow.

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Then I don't think it would work. Opening the garage door will let out all the cool air you're trying to keep in to maintain a good ambient. Not to mention, if you're bringing in your car from driving in a hot day, it's going to radiate heat right next to your snakes.

But definitely test all the variables with a thermometer, that's only sure way.

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Originally Posted by wnateg

Are you planning on opening the garage? Like for use beyond keeping the snakes?

Stick a thermometer out there, and you should be able to figure out how much you'll need to do to bring the ambient down.

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If anything, opening the garage would let the hot air out if I did not have a split a/c. No cars are brought inside though.

Build a snake room in the garage. Put a window unit or a hotel style unit (heat an air) in the room. A thermostat controls the AC just like in the house.

Now, it's just me, I like watching the snakes. So it's glass, AB T8's so I can see them in the TV room. A tub system works great in garage or shed. I know 20-30 hobby breeders with them. 2X4's an Armax insulation to make a room.

What are the laws about keeping repts in FL?

Is this a finished garage? I mean the walls & ceiling, with insulation? or is it bare beams with no insulation? There's a huge difference.

There's also a much bigger risk of ants & such getting into enclosures that are not observed as often in your normal living space, & they can kill your pets.

The only way I'd see doing this (as already mentioned) is if you enclosed & insulated part of the garage, & installed A/C, but it's still not really ideal.

Would you be able to build a snake room in your garage? You could just frame it up using wood or metal studs. It would be much easier to regulate temps, you could seal it off properly to keep the bugs out. Maybe an exhaust fan may help? It would also seperate the snakes from any exhaust fumes, paint fumes and other chemicals commonly kept in garages.

Just spitballin...

If you want happy and healthy reptiles, consistency is important, as is avoiding extremes in either. I imagine it would be difficult to maintain consistent temps and humidity, even with proper thermostats and good caging (insulated - like Boaphile, AP, etc), if you are opening the garage door at all. I also think opening the garage door would lead to either spikes or drops in humidity, or in FL, often keep the humidity too high for some species. Both Carpets (Bredli) as well was BP's, are prone to RI's if not given good and ideal conditions. Temp changes and humidity changes can cause these, among other illnesses.

I keep my reptiles in an area where temps are very consistent as is humidity and there is no drafts. I also use top notch caging and thermostats.

If you can insulate, not open the door, and/or build a small area in the garage that is insulated, I think it would be okay. However, probably not a good idea otherwise.

I live in FL too. I don't know how you can keep your reptiles in the garage because it gets way too hot in the summer and too cold when we get cold snaps. Our garages are not insulated? With the door open, it can still get pretty hot in the summer. You will have to convert that into a room with A/C to ensure the safety and better control of temps and humidity for your reptiles. No one I know keeps pets of any kind in the garage, not even a dog, just because of how hot it can get in there.

And for the post that asked, no, we do not have any laws pertaining to how we can keep our reptiles, only a list of what you can or cannot keep without registration.

For what it's worth, I used to live in the California desert & raised all kinds of rodents in my garage, both for sale & to feed my then-huge family of snakes.
I've never kept snakes in a garage, but let me just add, that was a 4+ car garage (that I did pull my van in & out of most days, as I went to work etc), BUT it
was a "finished" garage....the walls & ceiling were well insulated & I personally insulated the garage door also, & I had A/C installed (a "swamp cooler" actually,
but you'll need A/C) on a thermostat control, & also had "up-ducts" to keep the air flowing up & out). Even in So Cal, winters got cold (I was in the "high desert")
& for that I insulated the rodent cages...they make enough body heat to get by, unlike snakes, & as already mentioned, excess heat is generally the bigger danger. (the rodent cages were also NOT near the garage door, btw)

One thing I haven't heard anyone mention is power...as in when storms knock out your electricity. In a hot or cold garage, you are going to lose animals unless
you also have a generator ready to run. It's far less a problem in a house, simply because there is more air space...it takes much longer to get dangerous so you
have more time to mitigate until the power is on. So you may be running A/C in your garage in the heat, but think how fast your garage is going to be a death-
trap for your snakes if you lose power? And what if you aren't home to even know about it? If your garage is not even insulated...??? :O

And as I mentioned before, don't under-estimate ants or other pests. Even in my house I had invading ants kill a cute gecko...they entered his cage presumably
for his mealworms, but bit him too & he quickly died. :tears:

Everyone has made great points and I thank you for them. To answer one question, yes, my garage is fully finished cinderblock and plaster walled. It also has an extra 1/2 garage alcove I could use to frame and wallboard with a windowed a/c.

All in all, however, I do feel now thanks to all of the responses that I would rather not keep animals in there. For all of the above written reasons and variables, my snakes would be at a much higher risk of perishing and that is the opposite of my intention. In addition, the further I protected them in the garage I would also make it more difficult for me to see them everyday which is also not what I had envisioned.

So again, thank you all for the advice. This was a great way to clarify the pros and cons of an idea and I didn't have to learn the hard way or stress my snakes in the process. Cheers!

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Originally Posted by rock

...In addition, the further I protected them in the garage I would also make it more difficult for me to see them everyday which is also not what I had envisioned...

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That's also why I've never kept my snakes in a "snake room" -even IF they'd fit...:rolleyes: The old adage "out of sight, out of mind" is very true...easy to miss spilled water or
actual disasters in the making, & personally, I just enjoy seeing my pets...they're part of my life. Glad to help you think thru this...safety & enjoyment are HUGE reasons
to keep snakes where you can see & easily interact with them. Sounds like you have a nice garage though, for other things...:cool:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

That's also why I've never kept my snakes in a "snake room" -even IF they'd fit...:rolleyes: The old adage "out of sight, out of mind" is very true...easy to miss spilled water or
actual disasters in the making, & personally, I just enjoy seeing my pets...they're part of my life. Glad to help you think thru this...safety & enjoyment are HUGE reasons
to keep snakes where you can see & easily interact with them. Sounds like you have a nice garage though, for other things...:cool:

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I absolutely agree with you. Safety and enjoyment, you nailed it. As for the other garage things, I’ll add that I also have a full size fridge for beverages, etc... And a couple years ago I covered the entire floor with heavy duty horse stall mats. Great to walk on, great for a mini gym (intended purpose at the time) and great at cutting noise. That said, the mats and the typical garage items like paint and cleaners that are in the cabinets also made me worry about unknown air toxins that could hurt the snakes. So, just a people garage for now on!

"...horse stall mats..." I like how you think. "outside the box" for solutions. :D

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

"...horse stall mats..." I like how you think. "outside the box" for solutions. :D

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Hah, absolutely. Thank you. 😁