IMPORTANT: What would you do in a snowstorm?!

[Crazy4Herps]

Snowstorms, wind storms, tornados, thunderstorms... there is always a possibility of a power-outage in your area. MEANING... every single reptile-owner needs a power-out plan!!!!!! I am such a hypocrit.

Tell us about your plan if the power goes out. How will you keep your reptile warm? If the power doesn't go back on for a long time, what will you feed your reptile?

My plan (yet to be put into action): I will keep a store of frozen rats (although she refuses them, she might not if she's starving) and hand-warmers for my Ball Python. I don't have a Beardie yet, but when I do, I will also keep hand-warmers and a store of food pellets and freeze-dried crickets. It isn't perfected, but it will keep them alive.

Reptiles die all the time in snowstorms when their owner isn't prepared to keep them warm and fed. Make your plan now!!!

[Thor26]

i have a generator...... and my snakes all eat f/t..... so i win.

[mainbutter]

Living in Minnesota, I've often wondered what I'd do.. Luckily I'm in Minneapolis and cities are more storm-proof than rural areas, at least for power outages. Of course if we have a tornado hit the city, or some day-after-tomorrow sized storm.. I don't know for sure. At that point I might have enough trouble trying to keep myself alive.

If the roads were cleared but power still out, I'd drive out to somewhere that did have power.

I'll have enough CGD for my cresties, and I always keep at least 4 feeders for my snake in the freezer.

[nixer]

i would probally stay in the house lol

really actually this house is setup alot better for this situation than the last one! we now have hot water heat and a fireplace, but we also have a generator.

the last house had forced air heat and i had a generator but we dont loose power much at either house.


typically big cities are not less prone to power outtages! look at cali and chicago they constantly have outtages alot of times they are brownouts but even then you wont have any juice

[instinct27]

I'm lucky enough to live in Florida.

[Seneschal]

Well, if there was an actual snowstorm here, then it probably would be a day-after-tomorrow sort of event...

But if we're just talking a big hurricane-esque storm in winter that knocks the power out, my first action would be to move the rack into my closet. My closet is the only room in the house besides my brother's (tiny) closet and my parent's (overcrowded) closet not to have a window.

Then I'd help my dad hook up the generator and run out to buy chemical hand/foot warmers in bulk, or raid my dad's supply of them (him being a hunter and all).

Food would remain in easy supply so long as we're not talking day-after-tomorrow esque storm, and then it would just be a matter of grabbing a couple live male rats and putting them in with my females, and having plenty to feed the rats.

Luckily, even if we don't have enough power to power all my heating elements in the rack, I can just use a space heater set on low; it would be more than sufficient to heat my closet to tolerable and even comfortable levels for the snakes while possibly using less electricity.

Good thread! I think this is something that we as pet owners need to think about.

[fishmommy]

I keep a stockpile of handwarmers for power outages.
I'd cover the enclosures with insulated blankets and use the handwarmers as needed.

I don't recommend worrying about food for snakes in that situation.
Feeding with inadequate heating for digestion will be much more harmful to your snake than a month without food. Don't risk a regurge! Just wait out the power outage and concentrate on preventing hypothermia.

[modestosnakeman]

lucky me where I am at in california it is still in the 70's
Would be scary to think that if someones power goes out that their snkaes might die.

[fishmommy]

my fish would die

but my snakes won't - even if I have to take them to a hotel

[Laooda]

During Ike we were without power for 15 days. I ran a small space heater off of a generator into the snake room... (I checked the temp in there 7-8 times a day to tweak it up or down even though it was "set" on a temp)...and we ran another two 2 fans for the cresties in our bedroom. As for feeding the snakes, after we had power restored I gave them all another week to stabilize. I normally feed every week, and might have gone a different route if I had some who's weights I was concerned about. Luckily, *knock on wood* I have a collection of porkers. When I fed... EVERY snake ate... Out of 30ish animals there are always 1 or 2 that don't feed, but no one refused a feed after 3 weeks. I think it depends on the animal. I didn't even notice a visual change on anyone, even the smaller snakes. 3 weeks feels like forever when you have no power after a storm, but it's really not that long for a plump snake to go without eating. They will refuse that long, sometimes much-much longer on their own. It just didn't seem safe to feed with the temp fluxing off of the space heater, and the gas shortage we had. My luck, I would have fed, and then not have been able to get gas for the generator.
Just my coin on the matter!