i have a question about taking my snake outside

[TeaNinja]

i live in norcal and its probably 50-60 degrees out right now, and its drizzling/light raining. if i take my dumerils out to cruise in the grass and such will he like it? or is it too cold, lmk.

/edit

i just read, in the winter months in madagascar it drops down to around high 40's (and its winterish) so it should be fine.

[Will0W783]

I make it a general rule not to take a snake outside when it is less than 70 degrees out. I usually stick to 75+ degree days and sunny to take them out. 50-60 degrees is, IMO, waaay too cold and you'd be asking for a lethargic snake and a potential RI.

[Jenn_06]

i think 50-60 is way too cold for snakes, it can get RI really easy, the ones in the wild are use to that kind of temps and have a much better immune system than our snakes. I live in MI right now and i dont take my snakes outside from Oct to April i just let them out in the house.

[Nafun]

While it may get that cold in their natural habitat, they aren't slithering around in the grass when it's that cold. They're huddled up underground, or inside a tree, or under someone's house, etc trying to keep warm.

[TeaNinja]

i took him outside in the rain yesterday and he loved it lol. i tried to put him back in his viv when i came inside and he REFUSED, he only wanted to climb on me. after he climbed everywhere i put him in his viv and he seemed super perky all night so i dropped his rat in at 4:30 am and he had a nice meal and has been hiding ever since. he seems happy as can be.

[Will0W783]

He didn't want to go back into the viv because you are warm. While new environments and sights/smells can be stimulating for a snake, please listen to us more seasoned keepers when we say that 50-60 degrees is way way too cold for a snake to be crawling around outside in. You may be ok a few times, but how will you feel when the snake comes down with a respiratory infection? Remember, these guys are reptiles, cold-blooded, and therefore rely on their environments to warm their bodies. In the wild, when it's cold outside, snakes are huddled up in dens, under rocks, etc, to try to keep warm. There is a good reason we have to regulate the temperature gradients in their cages so tightly...a bit too cold and you've got an RI waiting to happen...way too hot and you've got a dehydrated, lethargic snake. I cannot stress enough to you- PLEASE DO NOT TAKE A CHANCE WITH YOUR SNAKE'S HEALTH. We are here to help on this forum, but one can only offer advice; we can't force you to listen. Do your research on online care sheets, talk to breeders, whatever you feel you need to do, but I can guarantee you will get the same answer from everyone.

[TeaNinja]

He didn't want to go back into the viv because you are warm. While new environments and sights/smells can be stimulating for a snake, please listen to us more seasoned keepers when we say that 50-60 degrees is way way too cold for a snake to be crawling around outside in. You may be ok a few times, but how will you feel when the snake comes down with a respiratory infection? Remember, these guys are reptiles, cold-blooded, and therefore rely on their environments to warm their bodies. In the wild, when it's cold outside, snakes are huddled up in dens, under rocks, etc, to try to keep warm. There is a good reason we have to regulate the temperature gradients in their cages so tightly...a bit too cold and you've got an RI waiting to happen...way too hot and you've got a dehydrated, lethargic snake. I cannot stress enough to you- PLEASE DO NOT TAKE A CHANCE WITH YOUR SNAKE'S HEALTH. We are here to help on this forum, but one can only offer advice; we can't force you to listen. Do your research on online care sheets, talk to breeders, whatever you feel you need to do, but I can guarantee you will get the same answer from everyone.

duely noted, but in the wild in winter time i'm SURE they have to crawl through wetness for 10 minutes to find a nice warm place to hide, and he had warm hides and a spot to bask and whatever he needed. i do not feel in any way that i put my snake at any serious risk, that's just my opinion though.

[TeaNinja]

and on 2nd thought, if he was comfortable enough to eat later that night then theres no way he was too cold.

[Jenn_06]

why did you ask us if you are going to do what you want to do anyways?

[TeaNinja]

why did you ask us if you are going to do what you want to do anyways?

i was iso opinions to base mine off of, and when no one answered that post i looked online and read about madagascar and made my own opinion. everything that was said was after the snake was already outside, so i couldn't have listenened even if i wanted to.
i still listened to everyone's input after the fact, and maybe it'll change the way i take my snake out in the future.

[Nafun]

They don't crawl through cold wetness for at least 10 minutes during the winter in the wild. They brumate. When the days start to get shorter, they seek out a den, somewhere warm and protected and slow their metabolic processes down. It's like hibernation. They don't eat, they don't move. They stay there and they weather the.. weather.

Sure, he might have eaten later that night, but that doesn't mean a thing. He got warm again, and was hungry, so he ate. That doesn't mean that exposing a snake to cold conditions won't result in a respiratory infection. It will.

[TeaNinja]

They don't crawl through cold wetness for at least 10 minutes during the winter in the wild. They brumate. When the days start to get shorter, they seek out a den, somewhere warm and protected and slow their metabolic processes down. It's like hibernation. They don't eat, they don't move. They stay there and they weather the.. weather.

Sure, he might have eaten later that night, but that doesn't mean a thing. He got warm again, and was hungry, so he ate. That doesn't mean that exposing a snake to cold conditions won't result in a respiratory infection. It will.

ok, then i guess i lucked out and i was wrong.

[Jenn_06]

did not want to sound mean on the other post but over the years on forums i seen alot of new snake owners ask ?'s and dont want hear what other ownes havae to say and they end up with a sick snake or dead snake.but i understand that we did not post in time.

[TeaNinja]

did not want to sound mean on the other post but over the years on forums i seen alot of new snake owners ask ?'s and dont want hear what other ownes havae to say and they end up with a sick snake or dead snake.but i understand that we did not post in time.

i've seen at least 5-10 posts of overpassionate pet owners absolutely raging and tearing into people who know less instead of just politely giving info or opinions. I, as much as ANYONE get incredibly angry and frustrated when people don't take proper care of their pets. but even good information gets ignored a lot of the time when the person presenting it does it like an a$$ (not saying you did this, but i've seen it happen a lot)
aside from not knowing 100% of everything about snakes, i'm a wonderful pet owner. the snake is healthy and happy and i raised and trained my dog from a 8lb bag of skin. I'm pretty logical and generally heed advice that is given to me, but i do not respond well to being chocked into catagories or being talked down to.

[shaunyboy]

i think 50-60 is way too cold for snakes, it can get RI really easy, the ones in the wild are use to that kind of temps and have a much better immune system than our snakes. I live in MI right now and i dont take my snakes outside from Oct to April i just let them out in the house.


imo the ones in the wild will have a choice of going out in it or staying put in a warmer spot chosen by them

i would'nt take the chance mate

even when you take them outside in summer you have to provide them with the chance to seek a sheltered shady spot

cheers shaun

[Will0W783]

I wasn't trying to sound harsh either, but IMO it's really not worth the risk. You came on here, and asked a question. You got answers from multiple people, and continued to argue with us. We are not interested in forcing our opinions on you or trying to bully newcomers around; we care about the health and happiness of snakes, and honestly I think you're just putting your snake at an unnecessary risk taking him outside in the winter.

I did find the care sheet online where I think you found out about the climate of Madagascar. It may very well get cold there in the winter- it gets cold here in the US, especially the eastern coast, during the winter, and we have native snake species. The thing to keep in mind though, is that in the wild snakes have options for temperature and hiding and humidity, while in captivity they are completely at our mercy.
Another thing to note is that wild snakes are more acclimated to the temperature fluctuations that occur in the wild- many snakes die every year when it gets cold, and only the strongest specimens will ever survive to reproduce. In captivity, we can breed for color, temperament, size, etc. Captive-bred snakes are generally less predisposed to parasites and other such illnesses, but they are raised in captive situations, where they are only ever exposed to an ideal temperature range. How would you feel if you grew up in the tropics and then got dumped off in, say, New York? Even during the summer you'd be cold, and you'd absolutely freeze and get all kinds of colds and flus in the winter. You body would not be acclimated to that climate.
Now, having said that, I'm NOT saying to go try to acclimate your snake to temperature extremes- in fact I'm saying the opposite. Keep it in its ideal temperature range. If you want to let it out, let it out around your house, where I'm sure the temps are around 70 degrees. I'm sure you've invested a significant amount of money and time in your snake, its supplies, and its food. So why take risks? It just isn't worth it. Not for you- not for your snake.

Of course, you can do what you want, but I'm honestly only trying to help.

[TeaNinja]

I wasn't trying to sound harsh either, but IMO it's really not worth the risk. You came on here, and asked a question. You got answers from multiple people, and continued to argue with us. We are not interested in forcing our opinions on you or trying to bully newcomers around; we care about the health and happiness of snakes, and honestly I think you're just putting your snake at an unnecessary risk taking him outside in the winter.

I did find the care sheet online where I think you found out about the climate of Madagascar. It may very well get cold there in the winter- it gets cold here in the US, especially the eastern coast, during the winter, and we have native snake species. The thing to keep in mind though, is that in the wild snakes have options for temperature and hiding and humidity, while in captivity they are completely at our mercy.
Another thing to note is that wild snakes are more acclimated to the temperature fluctuations that occur in the wild- many snakes die every year when it gets cold, and only the strongest specimens will ever survive to reproduce. In captivity, we can breed for color, temperament, size, etc. Captive-bred snakes are generally less predisposed to parasites and other such illnesses, but they are raised in captive situations, where they are only ever exposed to an ideal temperature range. How would you feel if you grew up in the tropics and then got dumped off in, say, New York? Even during the summer you'd be cold, and you'd absolutely freeze and get all kinds of colds and flus in the winter. You body would not be acclimated to that climate.
Now, having said that, I'm NOT saying to go try to acclimate your snake to temperature extremes- in fact I'm saying the opposite. Keep it in its ideal temperature range. If you want to let it out, let it out around your house, where I'm sure the temps are around 70 degrees. I'm sure you've invested a significant amount of money and time in your snake, its supplies, and its food. So why take risks? It just isn't worth it. Not for you- not for your snake.

Of course, you can do what you want, but I'm honestly only trying to help.

all i'm going to say, you are wrong. i did not "ask for answers and then just argue" i looked for opinions. i did not ONCE say anyone's opinion was wrong or argue with ANYONE. i just voiced my opinion that i did not have the snake out for very long, he had the opportunity to go right back in and bask and regulate and i do not feel it was at serious risk. ALL i was saying, is give advice, don't critisize and rage about everything people don't know. and its not like i'm taking my snake outside every single day being like "screw their opinion", in fact, i listened to everyone and made my own opinion. so the thread did its job and everyone needs to be alittle nicer IMO.

i know I'D never snap and be an a$$hole to someone while trying to provide helpful information, but that's just me.
i like it when my point gets across and people don't hate me.

[infernalis]

Put the brakes on folks... enough arguing or I will shut down the thread. ;)