Power Outage - Need Help Quickly

[kthoms104]

There's a power outage in my town right now, and outside it's about 33 F. I have to leave soon, and my house hasn't yet lost power, but I'm worried about my BP. I've covered his tank with blankets except for the top just in case and have closed the door to the room he's in... Are there any other precautions I can take?

[Neal]

There's a power outage in my town right now, and outside it's about 33 F. I have to leave soon, and my house hasn't yet lost power, but I'm worried about my BP. I've covered his tank with blankets except for the top just in case and have closed the door to the room he's in... Are there any other precautions I can take?

I keep hand warmers in case this was to ever happen. I don't know your time situation but Walmart would be a quick option. You just don't want to put it in the tank with him, so perhaps putting him in a pillow case and putting the hand warmer wrapped in a shirt against, this way he has something to get the heat from.

[SDA]

How long are you going to be gone? Do you have any insulated coolers like a styrofoam cooler or soft side pack? Do you still have hot water? You can fill water bottles with hot water and they will maintain limited heat in an insulted container for several hours at least.

If you have nothing you can move the tank into a central room like a bathroom and keep the door closed. It will still get cold if you lose power but the bathroom or closet that does not touch external walls should stay warmer.

At the very least you can use towels and blankets to insulate the majority of the enclosure (leave a small area on top for ventilation and place hot water bottles around the side of the tank to provide limited heat. That is if you know you are going to lose power.

For the future I would suggest investing in packing as if you would ship your snake. You can pack it as if you were shipping it, place a reptile safe heat pack (not hand warmer as those get too hot) and place it in a central room. Should give you over 25 hours of life giving conditions and help you out of the next emergency.

Here is ship your reptiles' shipping supplies. Regardless of if these are the cheapest they are all in one place so you can order an emergency supply for next time.

https://shipyourreptiles.com/products


Reptile Basics also sells shipping supplies

http://www.reptilebasics.com/shipping-supplies/


There are plenty of sites that sell these supplies and you can make your own insulated box by just adding styrofoam to the insides. I highly recommend getting pet heat packs and not hand warmers for people.


Edit: hand warmers are not bad by themselves just not in a shipping box as an emergency. You can use them in a pinch wrapped to lessen the heat they give off. Just not in close proximity to a snake like in a bag or dropped in a box or tub.

[kthoms104]

Thank you guys! I was able to get a heat pack on the outside and a friend's going over to check in later.