Light for health.

[Godzilla78]

I recently moved and am keeping my ball python rack in a large closet, as it is easy to maintain the heat and humidity in there. It is quiet and dark, and perfect temps, the only problem is the lack of light. I am worried that the snakes will suffer somehow. Especially I am worried that they will lose their vision or some other aspect of their health without natural light, or some kind of day/night light cycle. They are basically in the dark 99% of the time!

Solutions:
a) get some kind of lighting and put it on a timer, to replicate a daily light cycle.
b) keep the snakes in the bedroom so the window light gives them the light cycle they need. (It will be more difficult to keep temps right if I take them out of the closet.)
c) keep them in the dark, and hope they don't suffer.

What do you all think?

[Team Slytherin]

I think they would benefit from a day/night cycle. I vote option a! I know my snakes are noticeably more active when I keep a light cycle for them.

[Alter-Echo]

Yeah, almost all animals need a light cycle in order to sleep and function properly, I doubt snakes are any different.

[Sunnieskys]

Light (not direct) from the window and no other light.

[Cheesenugget]

I keep my king snake in the living room where there is natural light. But I keep the babies (BP and Children's Python) in my bedroom in the dark mostly, with some natural light peeking in. My bp ate much better than when he was in the living room. Also, these pythons are ambush predators who would spend the majority of their lives in tunnels, burrows and termite mounds hiding, with very little sunlight if at all come through. Since they are babies and lacks the confidence to be more exposed, I plan to keep them there until they are a bit older. The Children Python may do better than the bp since my bp is so shy. So I think it depends on the individual snake. Shy ones = keep in the dark, curious and confident ones = keep out in the open with indirect natural light.

[Momokahn]

Have kept all of my snakes on artificial lighting with a timer since day one. Don't know what effect that has on their feeding habits if any but it is a rare day any of my snakes refuse their meals.

[tttaylorrr]

i would probably feel uncomfortable if my guys were in a dark closet too. IMO i think a natural light cycle helps them know when it's "safe" time to be out and when its hide time, giving them a bit of routine.

i would pick option A, but i would at least try B first to see just how much extra work it takes. but any type of light should work, just be cautious about heat building up in a small space.

[elleon]

I can understand your concern about light. I don't have much experience, but I imagine having a day/night light cycle would be important for a creature who relies on instinct so much. How else would they know when it's night to come out? I opt for natural light from the window, but it's supplemented with a plant light I also have in the same room (near the tank but pointing away from it), kept on a timer to match the sun outside (I use a spare port on my Herpstat). If you're keeping your snakes in the closet, I would suggest an indirect, low wattage light on a timer to help with their circadian rhythms. They may spend most of their time in burrows in the wild, but I imagine they would still be able to see some light coming from the entrance.

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[Sauzo]

A lot of people say snakes dont need lights but i dont agree. i think any animal that will be out in the day even very briefly will still benefit from lighting. Even a day/night cycle. I give all my snakes lighting and during the summer, i try and get them outside at least twice a week for anywhere from 15-30 mins depending how they react. If they try to hide under my arms, i just bring them back in. If they go gung ho and start exploring, i let them soak up some rays. I try not to put them in direct sunlight for more than a couple mins as it can heat them up fast. I more just give them a shaded spot on me to sit on.

And for Pat, i use UVB lighting. I would like to use it for all my snakes but i am in the process of trying to think of a good way to rig something.

[viper69]

Snakes and virtually all animals need a proper circadian rhythm. If it isn't proper, it MAY affect their metabolism. This has been studied in kingsnakes for examples.

Even scorpions have proteins involved in circadian rhythym that are ruled by the sun.