keeping temperate reptiles cool in heat wave?

[Bogertophis]

I've been eyeing a Chinese cave gecko (Goniurosaurus hainanensis) for awhile, but there's one thing they need that I am not sure how to provide - from what I've read they're a cold-climate species and being exposed to temps over 80F can be life-threatening for them. We recently had a weird heat wave here and my apartment doesn't have AC, so it was around 83-85F indoors for a few days. Even the snakes didn't seem to like it, they both went to their cool sides and acted cranky. For reptiles that need cool temps, how do you manage this? Place the enclosure on the floor and point a fan at it? Do you offer something like a granite tile they can lay on to cool off? I'd rather be prepared for this type of thing before getting a gecko so that I know I can manage them if it happens again.

Personally, I'd avoid keeping a species that might suffer & even die from such a small temperature fluctuation that's likely to happen sooner or later- because what if you're not at home to address it right away? Years ago, I was similarly tempted by a Moellendorf's rat snake (another cool-loving species) & I think I made the right choice when I decided that the animal's welfare came first, and I didn't get one. (Their temperature range is roughly 64* to 77* max.)

As far as ways to keep a pet cooler, yes- you can use a frozen water bottle (or something similar), but that's messy (the container will sweat & dampen the cage, & melt pretty fast 24/7 hours).

By the way, when you noticed your snakes seemed uncomfortable- I'd have turned off their heat for a few days. Putting the enclosure on the floor won't lower the temperature much- especially if you're not on a first floor apartment, since heat rises & upper floors are always warmer.

A fan will NOT lower the temperature of a reptile- the reason moving air makes us feel cooler is because we sweat & the moving air cools us by evaporating our moisture. That's the way a "swamp cooler" works- but remember they only work when it's not humid- that's why they're used in the desert, but not in states with more humidity.

A rock or tile only "feels" cooler- it's not, unless it's been in the refrigerator. Like I said, I would stick with keeping animals that you can manage with your real conditions- heat waves or power outages are not going to disappear- what then? If your power goes out, you'll need to keep your fridge closed, so getting ice could make your food spoil sooner...just think ahead, how you'd feel?