How to correctly simulate night?

[Niten]

I have to lower the temperature (correct?) but do I have to cover the terrarium to protect her from light?
We share the room unfortunately for her and I use to stay a lot at the pc at night, she's on the opposite side of the room of course but I'm not sure if it's enough...

[reptiletalk]

There is no need to lower the temperature.....you can cover the enclosure with a dark color blanket.....if ur pc light is the only light in the room then there is noneed to do anything....hope this helps...

[SSSSnakes]

Night time temps in the wild normally do drop but it not necessary to have them drop in captivity, unless you are planning on breeding the snake. Complete darkness is not necessary, a computer screen light should not bother the snake. Make sure you don't have any bright basking lights left on at night.

[Niten]

Great, the seller confirms it's not a problem unless they are her personal lights. Thanksssssssss. ^^

[shaunyboy]

all my Carpets get no heat at night,the thermostats are on timers according to which season it is

i use light emitting basking bulbs that turn off,when natural daylight goes at dusk

in the winter i put in and set heat mats to turn on if it gets below 50F,other than that my Carpet Pythons get no heat at night

i start the above after a hatchling's first year,so from their second year onwards they get no night time heat

it's only Carpet Pythons i keep,so for other species talk to someone who keeps them


cheers shaun

[Stewjoe]

I give all my snakes a night drop whether I am breeding them or not, I think it is beneficial for a long healthy life. Snakes will live shorter lives when their bodies are pushed to the limit and having a night drop allows their metabolism to slow down. You can think of their life like a fuse, the faster it burns the shorter they live.

I would not worry about the light of a computer, My snakes share my office and the light does not affect their evening behavior. My snakes receive no light other than what comes through the window, since I have shut off their daytime cage lighting they are active earlier in the evening, later in the morning and will rest outside of their hide more often.


in the winter i put in and set heat mats to turn on if it gets below 50F,other than that my Carpet Pythons get no heat at night
cheers shaun

Those temps would kill a boa in no time. Also I would only ever let my Diamonds get that cool.

[shaunyboy]

all my Carpets can take that level of night time temps mate...

that said i had one Jag that i had to heat 24/7 or she kept getting a R.I.

in winter (their cooling cycle) my Diamonds get 2 to 3 hours basking light and 2 to 3 hours 2.0 natural daylight UVB per day,then no more heat,like i said i set a heat mat at 50F,so they don't go any lower...

that said,imo a Diamond would be able to take the odd night at much lower temps,i'm just not willing to experiment with my pride and joy 2.2 Diamond group :)

i agree that other species may die quick at Carpet night time low temperatures


cheers shaun