I am in Maine and I'm afraid I don't keep my house warm enough for my BP. I got him to "rescue" him from my brother in-law who was keeping him in a filthy tank which he kept escaping out of. Anyway my house is starting to get cold around 65 in the day and 60ish at night. The tank is only around 75 during the day and I noticed it got down to around 70 at night. This is what I have for a set up: 55 gal fish tank with a metal screen top which is 80% covered with tin foil. (1) 100 watt ceramic bulb light which sits right on top of the cover on the right side. (1) large heat pad (for a 55 gal tank) on the lower left side of the glass. (1) small heat pad on the bottom of the left side which I keep his water dish on. I have put styrofoam (sp?) insulation on both of the smaller sides and most of the back (I left the spot behind the heating pad open). The styrofoam does not seem to be doing anything as the temperature did not change. The tank is on an enclosed wooden stand. Also I have aspen on the bottom of the tank about 1 - 2" thick. The ceramic light and heat pads are all plugged straight into the wall so I assume they are running at full blast. I have a Zilla thermometer/hygrometer which says 76 right now. It is 65 in the house right now.
Poor Rudy (my BP) has been in his hide all the time for the last 4 days (as far as I know). I have had him since 9/14 and he has been eating 2 adult mice every week since then. Prior to this week he would get more active when he was hungry and he would poke his head out of his hide when he heard me nearby.
I feel terrible and I want to do the best I can for Rudy but I cannot afford to raise my heat up 10 degrees. Nor would I want to live in a house that was 75 degrees. I live in a mobile home and I have a large kerosine heater that heats my whole house so putting him in one room and turning that rooms heat up to 75 is not an option either. Especially since I just have the one snake.
I do have a smaller tank (20 gal long I think). Would it be best to keep him in that for the winter?
Thanks so much.