return to main index

  mobile - desktop
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on YouTube link to us on LinkedIn
International Reptile Conservation Foundation  
click here for Rodent Pro
Mice, Rats, Rabbits, Chicks, Quail
Available Now at RodentPro.com!
Locate a business by name: click to list your business
search the classifieds. buy an account
events by zip code list an event
Search the forums             Search in:
News & Events: Herp Photo of the Day: Happy Rattlesnake Friday! . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day: Garter Snake . . . . . . . . . .  Tucson Herpetological Society Meeting - Nov 25, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - Dec 04, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Calusa Herp Society Meeting - Dec 05, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Southwestern Herp Society Meeting - Dec 07, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Kentucky Reptile Expo - Dec. 07, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  St. Louis Herpetological Society - Dec 08, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Chicago Herpetological Society Meeting - Dec 15, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  San Diego Herp Society Meeting - Dec 17, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Colorado Herp Society Meeting - Dec 21, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Bay Area Herpetological Society Meeting - Dec 27, 2024 . . . . . . . . . . 
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research
full banner - advertise here .50¢/1000 views
click here for Rodent Pro
pool banner - $50 year

RE: At what temp does food become toxic?

[ Login ] [ User Prefs ] [ Search Forums ] [ Back to Main Page ] [ Back to Hognose Snakes ] [ Reply To This Message ]
[ Register to Post ]

Posted by: OrangeHeterodon at Mon Dec 2 17:36:50 2013  [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by OrangeHeterodon ]  
   

Well I certainly would not consider going below 0 degrees Celsius. While snakes live in areas where this temp and below are frequent, they retreat into caves and into the ground to get below the frost line, where it remains over freezing - 0 degrees Celsius.

I don't think there is too much to worry about as far as food digestion goes. That property revolves around acid based reactions which while require an Ea (Activation Temperature) the pH of the stomach acid covers this.

One thing I did just consider that I haven't seen in any care guide or point made in regards to this topic, the fecal matter that is post-digestion may gain bacterial growths if the snake, being ectothermic, does not have the necessary energy to be able to continue basic organ functions as well as deposit feces at the same time - something that is a must - in most if not all cases - for the latter to occur.

As far as a purely academic question actual food digestion shouldn't be an issue so long as the reptile does not literally freeze and die. The main issue would be the feces where bacteria can and does occasionally develop on the intestinal tract. In regards to your 50ish degrees Fahrenheit question I have seen snakes pass feces without problem in this temperature when I find a basking or hibernating (by accident) one from time to time

However in captivity such situations should be avoided from deliberate application. In the wild snakes know either by learning or instinct to properly regulate their body based on environmental conditions and as such the issue should not arise without accident. Such an example of an accident is if a and the only seasonal hibernation site was destroyed. That has the potential to kill off snakes withing given populations if they can't make due by a different means.


   

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Hide Replies ]


>> Next topic:  Soil for Western - OrangeHeterodon, Mon Dec 2 23:34:19 2013
<< Previous topic:  Hognose Burrows Please - OrangeHeterodon, Thu Nov 28 12:21:31 2013