Basking strategies

[Pirarucu]

I'm wondering if anyone else has seen anything like this. My retic basks normally sometimes, with his whole body on the basking spot for a short period of time, but I've noticed a lot of the time he only puts part of his body up there, usually his head, leaving the rest of his body on the cool side. It seems as though he is heating one part of his body and letting blood flow carry the heat throughout the rest of his body. Has anyone else observed this? It makes perfect sense for them to do this of course, as it means they can heat up without having their whole body exposed. Just wanted to hear any input you guys have.

[Mark Taylor]

Any pics of this? None of my snakes do it.

[Pirarucu]

I'll get some later. He isn't doing it now, but he usually does it on a daily basis.

[Mark Taylor]

OK what are temps hot and cold side?

[KORBIN5895]

I have a boa that does that.

[Mark Taylor]

A lot or occasionally?

[Pirarucu]

OK what are temps hot and cold side?Ambient temps are 90-95 on the hot side, and upper seventies to low eighties depending on the time of year. The basking light provides a basking surface temp of 120-125. I'm sure I'll get some flak about that, and how they don't use those temps. Mine must have missed the memo.

[Mark Taylor]

Maybe why he is behaving in this way not 100% sure but it doesn't need to be that hot.

[Pirarucu]

Maybe why he is behaving in this way not 100% sure but it doesn't need to be that hot.But if he uses it, why not provide it? If he avoided it all the time I would be worried, but he doesn't. Nor does he only bask with one part of his body on the spot, he basks with his whole body on it too. At the moment the spot is smaller than normal, because I am fresh out of the bigger bulbs I normally use.

Here you go, he snapped around to face me before I could take a picture. Yes, it is a glass cage. Yes, it is sealed and holds heat and humidity very well.
http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy75/Agigas/P1030831_zps44ebd23f.jpg

[Aaron_S]

Ambient temps are 90-95 on the hot side, and upper seventies to low eighties depending on the time of year. The basking light provides a basking surface temp of 120-125. I'm sure I'll get some flak about that, and how they don't use those temps. Mine must have missed the memo.

No where else to bask. It's his only choice. Either too hot or in the 70's... wonder which one I'd choose if I needed to digest a meal.

I would be interested if you did an experiment and took notes and gave him two basking options. Maybe you're enclosure isn't set up for that though but it would be neat!

[Mark Taylor]

I'm wondering if anyone else has seen anything like this. My retic basks normally sometimes, with his whole body on the basking spot for a short period of time, but I've noticed a lot of the time he only puts part of his body up there, usually his head, leaving the rest of his body on the cool side. It seems as though he is heating one part of his body and letting blood flow carry the heat throughout the rest of his body. Has anyone else observed this? It makes perfect sense for them to do this of course, as it means they can heat up without having their whole body exposed. Just wanted to hear any input you guys have.

Just maybe he wants to warm up but can't take the heat...

Ill wait till someone more experienced can tell us.:sorry:

[Pirarucu]

As I said, he basks with his whole body on the basking spot too. Aaron, in fact he is not limited to being too hot. Around and under the basking spot the temperature sits in the low 90s.

[Pirarucu]

Aaron, work on his new enclosure should begin in a few months if all goes according to plan. Once it is finished, he will have multiple basking spots.

[poison123]

My corn snakes basks at temps over 100F constantly. Imo a snake would much rather warm up faster and go about its business. I have also seen snakes in the wild bask at high temps (gopher,rattlers,garters and a few others). Nothing wrong with providing options :)

[Pirarucu]

My corn snakes basks at temps over 100F constantly. Imo a snake would much rather warm up faster and go about its business. I have also seen snakes in the wild bask at high temps (gopher,rattlers,garters and a few others). Nothing wrong with providing options :)Bingo. Warm up fast and slip away. No animal wants to sit in the open for a few hours just to keep its body functional.

[Lankyrob]

With big enough enclosures i would like to offer higher temps BUT if one end of a 4ft tank is 100f then what would the cool end be?

My BP is 91f hot end an 78f cool end in a 4footer, if i up the hot end 10degrees then where does he go to cool off? Is it just a case of increasing air flow to lower temps? Which would then destroy the humidity................

[poison123]

With big enough enclosures i would like to offer higher temps BUT if one end of a 4ft tank is 100f then what would the cool end be?

My BP is 91f hot end an 78f cool end in a 4footer, if i up the hot end 10degrees then where does he go to cool off? Is it just a case of increasing air flow to lower temps? Which would then destroy the humidity................

This can easily be done in a 4ft cage. Use a low wattage bulb with basking stacks to provide your snake with options to choose its own temps.

[SnakeyJay]

This can easily be done in a 4ft cage. Use a low wattage bulb with basking stacks to provide your snake with options to choose its own temps.

In which case a snake must be on an exposed and raised platform to warm up... Seems like it wouldn't be the best idea with a shy species like royals..

I know for sure I wouldn't get my brb to bask like that and they're also quite a shy species.

[poison123]

In which case a snake must be on an exposed and raised platform to warm up... Seems like it wouldn't be the best idea with a shy species like royals..

I know for sure I wouldn't get my brb to bask like that and they're also quite a shy species.

Exposed? No. Basking stacks allow the snake to choose options while still hidden with the top level being the hottest. And yes it is exposed. But tbh my bp's never basked in the open with a "normal" setup. I've never kept brb's so i don't have a say on that.

[SnakeyJay]

Yes it is exposed or no?

[poison123]

Do you know what retes stacks are?

[SnakeyJay]

Do you know what retes stacks are?

Of course I do, there's levels that they can hide in.. I was asking for clarification as you said it wasn't exposed and then that it was exposed in the same post.


Exposed? No.... And yes it is exposed.

[Rakoladycz]

He is measuring surface temperatures as well which are different from air temps. Mass absorbs heat and there for it gets hotter than the air.

And only the top most level of a retes stack is exposed, all other levels typically have two sides of cover however there have been a few variations made.

[poison123]

Of course I do, there's levels that they can hide in.. I was asking for clarification as you said it wasn't exposed and then that it was exposed in the same post.

Ah ok sorry about that. The top layer is exposed as that is the highest temps. With each level the temps drop and allow the snake to choose its own temps while hidden unless it decides to bask on the very top which is exposed.

[Terranaut]

My personal opinion.....
All reptiles should have a basking area that is hotter than their suggested hot side temps and a cool side cooler than suggested lows. Why? In the wild even colubrids will bask on 120° rocks in the sun for short peroiods and even desert snakes will seek out low 70's areas to hang out in. Why? Well if they need to digest prey or bump up their immune systems they seek extra heat and if they need to conserve energy they cool way down to slow metabolism. We should offer them the ability to do this in captivity. I originally had all my temps spot on the suggested norm in all the caresheets out there but after reading a post here decided to up all my hotside temps by 5° . What a difference in the activity level of my snakes as well as appearence and colour. Giving your snakes the ability to get exactly what they want when they want it is a great way to ensure top overall health in any reptile.

[Pirarucu]

Well said Terra.