Steady temperatures or not?

[SnakeyJay]

Originally Posted by Derek Roddy

I'm curious as to why you think that temps drop to "such a degree" in python territory around the world?
I mean, with the exception of the Diamond python.....most pythons around the world live in the same weather conditions. Some a little drier, some a little wetter but, the ambient temps are about the same the world over where these animals occur.

88-90 during the day 80-84 at night (averages) for most of these snakes populations.

Unless you let your room drop below 60 every night.....your snakes will be just fine at room temps at nighttime.

During winter months....my room can get down to the low 60s mid 50s and they're just fine.

D

Firstly, I wasn't aware that this was only relating to pythons so I'm sorry if I missed that.

That's my point, temps here in winter will drop quite low within my household ( need new windows fitted) and that isn't their natural temp drop.. I may be missing something tho n not quite get your point.

[Derek Roddy]

Originally Posted by Snakey-Jay

Firstly, I wasn't aware that this was only relating to pythons so I'm sorry if I missed that.

That's my point, temps here in winter will drop quite low within my household ( need new windows fitted) and that isn't their natural temp drop.. I may be missing something tho n not quite get your point.

Well, with any other snakes such as colubrids, etc.....some live in area's where it does freeze and, they have no heat source in the wild. So, in that case you should do you provide a heat source? Do you not hibernate them if they do so in the wild?

The point I was making is if you keep your animal at a natural temp range of their own temp range. Why would you not offer a night drop if that's what they get in the wild? Why would you keep them at a consistent temp if they don't get that where they come from?

D

[EL Ziggy]

Originally Posted by Derek Roddy

Well, with any other snakes such as colubrids, etc.....some live in area's where it does freeze and, they have no heat source in the wild. So, in that case you should do you provide a heat source? Do you not hibernate them if they do so in the wild?

The point I was making is if you keep your animal at a natural temp range of their own temp range. Why would you not offer a night drop if that's what they get in the wild? Why would you keep them at a consistent temp if they don't get that where they come from?

D

Derek- I think I understand what you're saying about the night drop. It's makes sense that temps naturally drop in the evening. I have colubrids and I usually keep their warm side temps at a constant 86-90. How much of a night time temp drop would you suggest? 5-10 degrees maybe? I've thought about trying this before. When it comes to supplying no heat source at all and only using the rooms ambient temps, what about after a feeding should I raise the temps a bit to aid with digestion? My kings seem to prefer warmer temps than my bull. I've heard several pit owners who say they offer no heat source. I just want to make sure my girl doesn't get too cold, especially in the winter. Our summers are pretty warm and I believe they would all be ok. But there wouldn't be much of a temp gradient would there?

[Derek Roddy]

Night time drops.....I always look at the area that said species comes from and go from there.

I house and keep mostly BHPs, Womas and a few Carpets here and there. The temps here in South florida is very similar to where these animals occur in their native ranges. So, I really don't have to do much.

In the winter....my room will get down to 50 but, only a few nights over the season. This year we had several full weeks of 50 degree nights....but, most of the time down here night time temps in the winter are in the low 60s. I give my animals no heat at night during this time.

If they have an opportunity to bask during the day, they can retreat to a hide and keep their ambient temps in check...without a heat source. After all, there is no heat source in the wild other than the sun.

Same for digestion, if they have a basking spot during the day, they'll be fine.

Do any of you guys own a temp gun? Very handy piece of gear. I use it to read temps of wild snakes and their habitats a good deal. I've found over time that no matter what the amb temps are....most snakes are in the 87- 89 degree range. Unless basking....where I've seen a rat snakes skin temp in excess of 115 in exposed full sun.

At night, I've seen wild animals as low as 70 and below....active, out searching for food.


D

[SnakeyJay]

Originally Posted by Derek Roddy

Well, with any other snakes such as colubrids, etc.....some live in area's where it does freeze and, they have no heat source in the wild. So, in that case you should do you provide a heat source? Do you not hibernate them if they do so in the wild?

The point I was making is if you keep your animal at a natural temp range of their own temp range. Why would you not offer a night drop if that's what they get in the wild? Why would you keep them at a consistent temp if they don't get that where they come from?

D

I'm not argueing whether it should be done or not... I'm asking how you'll get around the fact that some use burrows when the temp drops to keep warmish or to hibernate..

There is no heat source in the wild at night but the ground can act as a buffer to these temps in winter, and hold some residual heat below through the night.

It's just a thought that popped into my head, but it seems you've viewed this as an attack on your theory. I'm not trying to pick it apart, just clarifying the specifics.

[Derek Roddy]

Originally Posted by Snakey-Jay

I'm not argueing whether it should be done or not... I'm asking how you'll get around the fact that some use burrows when the temp drops to keep warmish or to hibernate..

I don't feel attacked at all brother.

If you've ever done temp gun readings of things like burrows, etc at night...you will learn that they are actually cooler than above ground.
There is no source inside a burrow, etc to make it warm. Only if something warm enters the burrow will it "gain" heat.

A snake that has been basking can enter a burrow and use his own stored heat to keep warm.
For instance, when one of my BHPs has been basking and returns to his hide box....the temp inside the hide goes up several degree just because the warm snake entered it and, it's a confined space. The box does not retain heat by itself without direct exposure to a heat source...something that a burrow doesn't get.

Originally Posted by Snakey-Jay

There is no heat source in the wild at night but, the ground can act as a buffer to these temps in winter, and hold some residual heat below through the night.

Yes, it can....but, not a 88 degree basking area....see where I'm going here?

Yes, roads, concrete, etc can hold heat but, only for a few hours after the sun goes down and no road, burrow, etc will be in excess of natural ambient temps as they are during the day....nowhere even close.

D

[Derek Roddy]

Originally Posted by Snakey-Jay

I'm not argueing whether it should be done or not... I'm asking how you'll get around the fact that some use burrows when the temp drops to keep warmish or to hibernate..

And, exactly how would that be different than crawling into a hide, in a cage that's had ambient temps of 88 degrees all day and a basking area, if the temps have dropped at night?

It wouldn't right?

D