I don't think that you have to worry about it being permanent.

Although it can be very tough to get a snake to lose weight safely. I think the key is to jump start their metabolism. I would give them the option of a little warmer temps. and feed smaller prey more often. This will usually help speed up the snakes metabolism, and over time your snake will outgrow the obesity. I think a lot of people misread my post. The key is to give the snake the choice. Granted a Black Milk may only use 85 substrate temps for 5 minutes in one season, but that 5 minutes of elevated temps. my save it's life, or prevent future health problems. I have seen California Mountain Kings basking on rocks, with a recent meal in them, when the ambient air temp. was in the low 50's, but their body temp was 80 degrees. This type of environment would be very tough to replicate in captivity. To touch on the point that Michael brought up about his Black Milk using it's water bowl when temps are raised. There is a lot more going on there than what we perceive. Snakes, being ectotherms, are not susceptible to hypothermia like a "warm" blooded human would be. Temperatures in the air, and even in the substrate, will change a lot quicker than the temp. of water. Since snakes do not perspire they do not necessarily cool off as we would, just by taking a dip in water. Now if the water is cooler than the surrounding area, then yes they will. On the other side I have found a lot of my collection will spend a lot of time in their water bowl during hibernation, and using a laser thermometer I've discovered that the water bowl was as much as 5 degrees higher than the ambient air temp. So what my snakes were doing was in effect "basking" in their water bowl. Yet at 55 degrees a human would be risking hypothermia. Another thing is that they just might be trying to re-hydrate. I think that giving your snake as many options as possible, within reason, will benefit you and the snake. The strict caresheet rules do not always apply. Good luck.

-Phil
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Work is the curse

of the drinking class!

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