Turning heat off at night?

[snakelet]

Well,
Who does it, who doesn't? I have heard some conflicting opinions on this, so what's the general consensus? Is it a good idea to turn off the head at night, or just leave it run the whole cycle?

Leanne

[Zoe]

I don't. Snakes need to theroregulate at night too, right? And the ambient air temp goes down too, which reduces the heat a bit.

Zoe

[T.O-SK8TER]

I leave my heat source on at night to, I understand that in the wild the temp drops. In the wild snakes don't live as long too, I think part of the reason snakes live longer in captivity is that they have the perfect environment all the time.

[Zoe]

T.O empty your inbox dude!

[T.O-SK8TER]

Oh, thanx I did it now.

[SerpentLust]

I leave mine on unless it's a really hot day out and the hot spot gets TOO hot.

Jenn

[reverendsterlin]

I usually turn the UTHs off sometime in March and on again in October. Here in the desert extra heat in the warm months kills. During the cooler months heaters are on 24/7

[jay76]

My heat's on all the time, my snakes seem OK with it, they're out and about quite often cruising the tanks for food

[Invictus]

Heat pads are on all the time. Heat lamps get turned off since the ambient temp doesn't drop too much overnight. (Usually not more than 4 or 5 degrees).

[KingFfaj]

i read that the temp should drop by ten degrees by night, so low to mid 70's. At this time of year i turn it down or off in the day (most days its been really hot) and on to the min at night. In the winter its turned right up most of the time

[sapphire_moon]

I leave the UTH's on 24/7, the heat lights/day lights get turned on when I get up, (around 10 in the am) and gets turned off when I go to bed, around 9-11 at night......

[marisa]

I turn all the heating to my corns and kings OFF at night. Yes they need to thermoregulate but the areas these animals come from drops in some places by far more than ten degree at night. Normally my house never gets below 75. So its not like a big drop anyway LOL.

Anyways I have never ever had an issue doing this.

Marisa

[Jeff_Favelle]

Marisa, yes, natural ambient drops, but rocks, boulders, the EARTH itself don't change much. And that's where the snakes hang out.

[Bartman]

I dont have snakes but even for my lizards i turn it off because normally in the wild it gets colder at night. Anyways i have a timer for everything so i set it and everyday and night it turns off at the same time.

[spydermrs]

I keep mine on all the time...but I turn it down at night

Ruth

[marisa]

Well I have never had a problem with it at all. But like I said its probably because my house is very warm at night.

Marisa

[Jeff_Favelle]

That's great that you've never had a problem. I've kept them without the drop and I've never had a problem. But which way is the right way?

Or is there a "right" way?

And if they are BOTH the "right" way, which method has the LEAST chance of someone screwing up and hurting the animals? These are the important questions.

[marisa]

LOL Jeff

I would obviously assume heating at night would be the RIGHT way. That would avoid any problems that COULD happen. Although maybe there is no right way, just a less risky one. Most likely.

Marisa

[lordkovacs]

i keep my uth on all the time.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Marisa, I'm with you girl! There is no right way. Only less risky ways and less efficient ways. But who knows, maybe night-time lows make better sperm and ova in the adults?

All these questions and no answers............. LOL!! :D

[marisa]

Well I just thank god my species of snakes are so forgiving. Helps out with human error!!! :D

Marisa

[Jeff_Favelle]

Know what Marisa? MOST reptiles are. Forgiving that is. Meaning, they are generalists. Most, not all, but most. Kind of good, and kind of bad.

[Darlene]

I don't have a set pattern with mine. I judge what stays on & off for uth's & lights for all my critters independently. I take into account the temp/humid in the cages & in the house; the location of each enclosure (for drafts, natural light, etc.); the season we are in; the needs of each critter (required gradient, age, feeding, pregnancy/mating, etc.).
Right now my uth's have just been turned back on. Not using heat lamps at the moment. Using daytime lights for those further from windows.

[marisa]

Darlene that is a very good way to go about it. I do in fact leave everyone on if I am either leaving and the windows will be open (and I can judge what the temp will be) or its cooler than normal.

It helps that I have them all in the same room too! lol :D

Marisa