Is human body heat too hot?

[pretends2bnormal]

I had a thought earlier while looking at a few of the threads where folks advise on hot spot temps. This is ENTIRELY a theoretical question and not to he taken as "advice" or a suggestion to do things differently. I'm just curious what people think since my analytical brain says this is all conflicting info.

Folks says that 94 or 95 degrees at a hot spot can/will cause burns (AKA, no hot spot >92), and I'm sure there are cases to support this as fact. Everyone also knows that human body temps are typically upper 90s, normally 98, also a scientific fact.

Would extended handling of a BP be able to cause burns; what length of time would it have to be for a burn to occur?

Extended thought, is there any logic to think that some snakes who dislike handling might do so because of the heat of our bodies?


My thoughts kind of follow that if a surface temp in the cage of 94 or 95 is hot enough to cause a burn, then shouldn't humans be too hot for them when being handled for more than short periods, since we are usually close to 98 or so.

I played with my temp gun when I got it and know that my fiance's hand temperature is pretty close to that at 96-98, and my always-cold hands still typically hit over 92-94. Not counting the hands, humans tend to be warmer around the back of the neck and head (definitely near tree he 98 number) for folks who place snakes over their shoulder/neck.

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[Craiga 01453]

94-95 won't cause burns, it's just hotter than ideal for a BP. Unregulated heat sources are when burns occur due to spikes over 100 and up too 120. They thrive with the 90-92 hotspot suggestion. My personal preference is to keep my hot spot a little cooler, so I keep mine 90.

[Skyrivers]

Would extended handling of a BP be able to cause burns; what length of time would it have to be for a burn to occur?

Not sure about how long but I think extended handling could cause unhealthy body temps for the snake. Burns? I think would be more baking of internals slowly. Length of exposure that would cause heat related health issues? Not sure on that one.

Extended thought, is there any logic to think that some snakes who dislike handling might do so because of the heat of our bodies?

It is possible to be heat related but can be many reasons.

My thoughts kind of follow that if a surface temp in the cage of 94 or 95 is hot enough to cause a burn, then shouldn't humans be too hot for them when being handled for more than short periods, since we are usually close to 98 or so.

IMO do much handling would cause stress issues over to much heat.

[SDA]

Unless you either have a fever or are under covers while handling, you are not going to radiate enough body heat to cause a health condition in your snake. Most likely if you are handling the snake it will be moving or resting on clothes which will further reduce body heat.

Remember we are 98.6 give or take on the inside, not the surface.

The more concerning aspect would be over handling a ball python. There is no reason to handle a ball python for longer than say 30 minutes at a time. Doing so can increase stress levels.

[pretends2bnormal]

That's along the lines of what I was thinking. Definitely stress would be the first issue practically.

Another thought I had, heat from a hot spot under a hide would likely build up over a period of time while the snake is sitting on it, but heat from handling would not heat the snake since it would dissipate more/not raise above the initial levels from your skin due to lack of a hide insulating the air around the snake. Or.. a snake wouldn't get as hot even on identical temps, hot spot vs skin & handling, since it would cool via it's back and sides.

@SDA - I'm not sure how accurate the temp guns are on skin, but hands/arms measured in the 93-98 degree range when I was testing out mine on my fiance and I who had been inside a while + healthy back when I bought it. So, the higher than 90-92 temps still sound possible/likely to me without being sick.

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[Skyrivers]

That's along the lines of what I was thinking. Definitely stress would be the first issue practically.

Another thought I had, heat from a hot spot under a hide would likely build up over a period of time while the snake is sitting on it, but heat from handling would not heat the snake since it would dissipate more/not raise above the initial levels from your skin due to lack of a hide insulating the air around the snake. Or.. a snake wouldn't get as hot even on identical temps, hot spot vs skin & handling, since it would cool via it's back and sides.

@SDA - I'm not sure how accurate the temp guns are on skin, but hands/arms measured in the 93-98 degree range when I was testing out mine on my fiance and I who had been inside a while + healthy back when I bought it. So, the higher than 90-92 temps still sound possible/likely to me without being sick.

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I keep in mind cooling as much as heat. I keep my temp in my house at 75ish. I know my heat sources have to work to keep temps at the correct levels but I also know they should not get to hot. We talk about providing heat a lot. What about lowering temps?

[Lirenn]

I second what has been said about body temps not being an issue, even with a fever. Think about holding a piece of raw meat, you may make it a smidge warmer where you are touching it but no way are you going to cook it even a little. So there's no way you will burn your snake either.

Now, if you stick it in your armpit like a thermomether it may get uncomfortably hot ....

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[Joelgriz8124]

Your good unless ur a fire bender


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[Ladybugzcrunch]

sorry, funny question. I burn you with my touch. Agree with other posters.

[Sgt7212]

Unless you either have a fever or are under covers while handling, you are not going to radiate enough body heat to cause a health condition in your snake. Most likely if you are handling the snake it will be moving or resting on clothes which will further reduce body heat.

Remember we are 98.6 give or take on the inside, not the surface.

The more concerning aspect would be over handling a ball python. There is no reason to handle a ball python for longer than say 30 minutes at a time. Doing so can increase stress levels.

What he said. For people, ideal body temp is 98.6, but that is your core temperature.

With that being said, I do not have a fever and my body temp is normal.

Using a temp gun my arms read 90.5 and various points on my hands read anywhere from 85.3 - 88.7