Planning my setup

[Relentless]

Keep in mind before reading this that I have no yet decided 100% on the snake I am getting. My first priority is to pick the best area in the house to set up an enclosure and heat it properly (regardless of specific temperature requirements). If anyone has any more questions, please feel free to ask and I'll clarify so that advice is as accurate as possible. Thanks guys!

My house is two floors (minus basement which is underground). The way my house is heated is with central air/heat and it is on a schedule so that only one floor of the house is heated at a time. When one of the main floors is heated, it is about 65 degrees and when it is not it drops to about 58 degrees. Yes, quite chilly. This is where my concern lies with picking the right spot to house a snake. I know my basic options in general, but I'm sure that hearing suggestions or experience from keepers in similar situations may be very helpful.

I am thinking that the basement is my best bet since it's underground. The setup is the "main room" (finished basement, btw) and then there is a small side room next to the stairs for some storage. Then there is another room in the back for more storage and sub-room within that room that houses the water heater and is a small work station as well. I think a consistent temperature is much more possible in the basement since it is not affected as far as I know with the temperature fluctuations in the main part of the house. I have a thermometer that I used to watch the temps upstairs and I plan on tossing the thermometer in the basement tonight and seeing what the temps look like down there at night and during the day.

So, my questions are as follows:

1) Does anyone else have this issue that their house isn't heated to a consistent temperature 24/7? How do you cope if that's even possible?

2) I don't know if heating an entire room is possible for me at this moment. If this isn't an option, I planned on using supplemental heating for the "cool" end of the enclosure to ensure proper temps. However, will this negatively affect the animal when I handle it in a room that doesn't have the same ambient temp as the cool end of the enclosure?

I apologize if this is a ton of info to throw into one thread. I just want to do this absolutely correct. The safety and health of the animal is the number one priority. When I had my animals in my old house, this was not an issue so these new circumstances have brought up a lot of concerns on my part.

Also keep in mind that once this is figured out and I purchase the appropriate heating elements, the enclosure will sit with heat on in the chosen area for a week to monitor it. I absolutely will not and can not just assume it will work and take that chance. That just ain't me.

Thanks again guys!

[Lankyrob]

Originally Posted by Relentless

Keep in mind before reading this that I have no yet decided 100% on the snake I am getting. My first priority is to pick the best area in the house to set up an enclosure and heat it properly (regardless of specific temperature requirements). If anyone has any more questions, please feel free to ask and I'll clarify so that advice is as accurate as possible. Thanks guys!

My house is two floors (minus basement which is underground). The way my house is heated is with central air/heat and it is on a schedule so that only one floor of the house is heated at a time. When one of the main floors is heated, it is about 65 degrees and when it is not it drops to about 58 degrees. Yes, quite chilly. This is where my concern lies with picking the right spot to house a snake. I know my basic options in general, but I'm sure that hearing suggestions or experience from keepers in similar situations may be very helpful.

I am thinking that the basement is my best bet since it's underground. The setup is the "main room" (finished basement, btw) and then there is a small side room next to the stairs for some storage. Then there is another room in the back for more storage and sub-room within that room that houses the water heater and is a small work station as well. I think a consistent temperature is much more possible in the basement since it is not affected as far as I know with the temperature fluctuations in the main part of the house. I have a thermometer that I used to watch the temps upstairs and I plan on tossing the thermometer in the basement tonight and seeing what the temps look like down there at night and during the day.

So, my questions are as follows:

1) Does anyone else have this issue that their house isn't heated to a consistent temperature 24/7? How do you cope if that's even possible?Mysnakes are in my living room which varies in temp considerably. A decent thermostat keeps the vivs at stable temps

2) I don't know if heating an entire room is possible for me at this moment. If this isn't an option, I planned on using supplemental heating for the "cool" end of the enclosure to ensure proper temps. However, will this negatively affect the animal when I handle it in a room that doesn't have the same ambient temp as the cool end of the enclosure?You shouldnt have the snake out of its enclosure long enough for it to have an effect, i rarely handle mine for more than fifteen minutes at a time

I apologize if this is a ton of info to throw into one thread. I just want to do this absolutely correct. The safety and health of the animal is the number one priority. When I had my animals in my old house, this was not an issue so these new circumstances have brought up a lot of concerns on my part.

Also keep in mind that once this is figured out and I purchase the appropriate heating elements, the enclosure will sit with heat on in the chosen area for a week to monitor it. I absolutely will not and can not just assume it will work and take that chance. That just ain't me. Kudos

Thanks again guys!

Answers in red above

[Relentless]

Thanks for the reply! If you don't mind me asking, what types of snakes do you have? How long would be too long to be out in a considerably (10-20 degree difference in temp) different temperature? That's what is most scary to me since the species I like typically like the warmer temps.

[MoreliAddict]

All you need is a thermostat hooked to a radiant heat panel which is strong enough to get your hot spot temps even if the room is 50 degrees.

That's the setup I go with, and it does not matter how much the temperature in my room fluctuates...

[Relentless]

Thanks MoreliAddict. A RHP was one of my heating elements of choice. Even with the RHP hitting the right basking temps, wouldn't the ambient temperature still be too low on the cool end? And handling a snake that requires ambient temps in the 80s in a room in the 50s just sounds like a bad idea no?

[MoreliAddict]

Originally Posted by Relentless

Thanks MoreliAddict. A RHP was one of my heating elements of choice. Even with the RHP hitting the right basking temps, wouldn't the ambient temperature still be too low on the cool end? And handling a snake that requires ambient temps in the 80s in a room in the 50s just sounds like a bad idea no?

If that's your concern, you can always put a heat matt at the cool end as well, with its own thermostat, and set that thermostat to the lowest temp you'd want your cool side to be...

[MoreliAddict]

Originally Posted by Relentless

handling a snake that requires ambient temps in the 80s in a room in the 50s just sounds like a bad idea no?

I wouldn't pull a snake out into a room that's 50 degrees.

Only reason my room gets into the 50s is because I open my window at night, it's low 70s in here throughout the day..

[Lankyrob]

I have corns, green tree python, sd retic, royal and a carpet. I always make sure our room is warm enough before any snake leaves a viv, same as goimg outside for photoshoots - only on very warm days.

Either way i keep handling to rare occassions and short periods of time.

[Jay]

A pair of expensive, reliable thermostats is your answer.

[Gungirl]

I agree with what has been stated above, a radiant heat panel is a great choice with a good thermostat hooked to it. If you have a good solid wooden viv then you will not loose much heat and your cool side will stay warm enough. It is all about controlling air flow. If you allow to much air flow your cool end will be to cool but if you seal off a few vents or add a towel ( anything to cover the cool end) you will retain more heat.

I have a GTP in a large wooden viv heated with an 80 watt RHP hooked to a thermostat. My house stays low 60s all fall and winter. I have 4 vents 2 low hot side 2 high cool side. In the fall and winter I simply seal off 1 of each vent a low and high to maintain proper temps in the viv.

[Relentless]

Thanks GunGirl! What the dimensions of your viv? I don't know much about GTPs but do you handle yours? If not, even when opening the cage to change water, mist, or clean, don't the temperatures in the viv change from the different temps (inside the viv vs. outside of it?

[Gungirl]

Originally Posted by Relentless

Thanks GunGirl! What the dimensions of your viv? I don't know much about GTPs but do you handle yours? If not, even when opening the cage to change water, mist, or clean, don't the temperatures in the viv change from the different temps (inside the viv vs. outside of it?

The viv is 3ft tall 2ft deep and 3 ft wide. I do not handle him at all he is 100% a display snake. If you want to handle a snake a GTP is NOT for you. When spot cleaning or changing water yes the temp will drop a tiny bit but I don't leave the door open for more than a minute or two so it's not a huge deal. I also built his cage with that in mind. He has 2 doors a large upper door and a small door on the bottom. For cleaning and water changes I only open the small bottom door. This allows 98% of the heat to stay inside the cage. Once the temp starts to drop his RHP kicks on and is replacing it as fast as it leaves the cage.

[Relentless]

No worries GunGirl, I wasn't interested in a GTP for myself although they are stunning animals! I knew I've read they aren't snakes to be handled and because that was one of my concerns here, I wanted to make sure I asked!