Heating ASF cage

Hey everyone,

I just got a young, small colony (1.1) of ASFRs, complete with their litter of 6 babies. I'm keeping them in a 10gal tank. The babies just fully opened their eyes yesterday, so I'll pull them out this weekend. I keep them in my basement which right now hovers around 63°F. I think it's a little cool for them. I've got some leftover 4" heat tape. I thought I'd set that up, on a dimmer, and run it real low, but I thought I'd ask around first for some possible better heating ideas. I don't think the mother is pregnant again (at least not showing), and I'm concerned the temps are to blame... Thoughts?

Thanks!

63 isnt cold as long as they have bedding to nest in. most rodents do best breeding in 60-78oF

http://http://www.ball-pythons.net/f...ad.php?t=70828

This caresheet suggests that they should be kept between 70 and 90. My colony is kept in the same room as my snakes which is usually 78-80. You may want to try and get them somewhere a bit warmer.

Shouldn't you keep the babies in til they are at least 3-4 weeks old

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

63 isnt cold as long as they have bedding to nest in. most rodents do best breeding in 60-78oF

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Keep in mind, these things are from AFRICA! 60 degrees is cold. If they get too cold, they will start eating babies. I try not to let the temps go below 70. In the summer they get up to 95 degrees with no issues.

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Originally Posted by TMoore

This caresheet suggests that they should be kept between 70 and 90. My colony is kept in the same room as my snakes which is usually 78-80. You may want to try and get them somewhere a bit warmer.

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Unfortunately, moving them to a warmer location isn't a realistic option right now... I thought providing some extra heat in their current location would be the best option.

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Originally Posted by llovelace

Shouldn't you keep the babies in til they are at least 3-4 weeks old

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I don't know the babies' exact birthdate, but I'd put them at around 3-4 weeks now. Eyes open, eating and drinking, etc.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Keep in mind, these things are from AFRICA! 60 degrees is cold. If they get too cold, they will start eating babies. I try not to let the temps go below 70. In the summer they get up to 95 degrees with no issues.

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That's what I thought. Any thoughts on supplemental heat? I'm torn between some heat tape, or a heat lamp.

I would use a heat lamp (make sure you know the temps). Since they have beeding an overhead heat would be better than bottom heat. Keep the temps at least 70, 80 is better if you can get it up that high. One last thing. If you take the little ones out you may never be able to return them. So make sure you can feed them off first before you take them out for any length of time.

Can't you put them in a warmer part of the house? If not, get a space heater. Dont see the heat tape or the heat lamp being the answer.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Can't you put them in a warmer part of the house? If not, get a space heater. Dont see the heat tape or the heat lamp being the answer.

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I agree. Heat tape will cause issues with pinky piles that are nested deep, and a heat lamp I think would be too harsh, and just upset them with the constant bright light. A space heater would be the best option if you cant move them to a warmer part of the house. Also, insulating the tank with some foam board may help a bit, as well as just offering some better nesting material. If you really cant get them some more ambient heat, I would make sure they have a decently snug hidey box with some good insulating bedding. Some ideas would be simple aspen shavings (the finer, thinner the better, it holds heat better), or some carefresh (I do not recommend this as a total substrate, just a little handful to nest in the box).

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Can't you put them in a warmer part of the house? If not, get a space heater. Dont see the heat tape or the heat lamp being the answer.

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I was going to say the exact same thing! I got a space heater from Home Depot that has a digital T-stat on it for $45. i keep mine at around 80 I get upset if it drops below 80. I have had it go below a few times I even had it as low as 65 but that was for a very short period of time so they may not have had a chance to get cold.... I would recommend figuring out how to heat them with a space heater. I do not know the lay out of your basement but you could build a room down there to heat... I mean something really basic nothing extravagant just something to hold in the heat!

Mike

I lost a litter (not sure if it was due to the cooler temps since I keep my house at about 65 degrees)...but I put my 17" flexwatt under their tub and haven't lost an entire litter since... I have a thermometer on the flexwatt and run it at about 82 degrees...

Thanks for your replies everyone. Unfortunately, relocating the ASFRs is not a possibility as I have a wife who is VERY uncomfortable with these little critters in the house. This colony is feeding my very fussy dumerils. Everything else I have, is on f/t. Additionally, we don't keep our house temp. much higher than 70F. Anyway, I thought I'd do a little bit of a test. I have a heating pad (human variety) with a temp. adjustment dial, so I placed in on the outside back wall of the tank. I measured the tank's temp with a heat gun, and it hovered around 76F with the back wall around 89F, so all in all, pretty reasonable. The activity of the ASFRs is way up all around. Overall they seem happier. I think I'll tape a strip of 4" heat tape along the outside top of the back wall, and control it with a dimmer. Now I hope the parents get busy on another litter...

you could also look into radiant heat panels

I don't breed ASF's, but I do breed rats. I keep them in the garage, and it can get very cold in there. I run a heater if it drops below 32F to keep the water from freezing. They breed fine and are all healthy.