Aaron,
In a field near me where Cal kings live (Palos Verdes, so Cal), I measured temperatures about a foot down into burrows. Big assumption that snakes are about that deep, but in any case, the temps stayed right around 55 deg F most of Winter.

Burrows on west and south facing hillsides were warmer in the 60-65 range.

In my opinion, it is not the cooling that is questionable. What I wonder most is that in the wild, snakes can and do seek cool temps much of the time, like in the 60s. But not bone dry cool temps. Cold with too low of humidity is no good. As FR said, cool is their base, and they seek heat to perform functions. They seem to either be cooled below 70, then heat up above 80. They do not seem to look for 72-78 unless passing thru to get to higher or lower temps. I am talking about temperate zone snakes here.

What would be ideal is to have a room that sits at 55-65 deg, then have a heated area in each cage. Then let the snakes pick what they want to do. Sounds like what Ernie did in FR's story.

Most of us keep the snakes at 75-82 deg range. Snakes will breed just fine and live fine. The lack of cool temps probably means they will not live as long. The longest lived colubrids I know of were allowed to experience cool temps in the room even if heat tapes were left on. Same with rosies. They also needed fewer feedings to maintain. Don't know if others have had different experiences.

I have some Antaresia pythons. They hug the heat always. Much easier lol.

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