Another Temperature Question

[digizure]

I have a rack system for my balls and when I scan the hot spot (with hide) with the infrared gun, it shows the bedding at 86 to 88 and maybe up to 90 inside the hide. The cool area is around 70 - 72 and that's where I put the water bowl.

My snakes average around 78 degree (when I point the infrared gun to its body). Is this too cold? I've read a lot about rack/cage temperature but I can't find any info on what the snakes' temperature should be.

Oh, I should add that this is my daytime temps.

M

[xdeus]

That does sound a little cool. Ideally, you should have an environment from the low 80s on the cool side to the low 90s on the warm side. If you notice that your snake is spending all of its time on the warm side, then it's a good indication that you should bump the temps a bit. The snake itself doesn't have an "ideal temp". They will thermoregulate as needed.

[satomi325]

Your temps sound a little low. But not dangerously low.
The ambient temp shouldn't go below 75 degrees. The risk of RI increases at that point.

I think its ok if the snakes are in the high 70s. But go ahead and bump up the hot spot a little bit. As long as the temps don't go above 95 and below 75, you're good.

[LLLReptile]

When provided with a basking spot of about 92 to 95, and a cool side of 70ish in winter, 80 in summer, my ball pythons invariably thermoregulated in such a way that their bodies were almost never below 82, and never above 86. You may want to adjust your temps so they can select warmer temps if desired. Personally, I'd increase the temps on your hot side and let them decide how warm or cool to get - yours may prefer a different range of temperatures.

It's kind of neat to track the snakes as they decide on a temp they want. I tracked mine for a couple years and ended up with those averages.

-Jen