A 65 degree snake would stay 65 in 65 degree water or 65 degree air, or a 55 degree snake would warm up in 65 degree water. Lets say it's a nice cloudless day and the ambient air temp. is 68 and a snake basking on a rock could easily bring it's body temp up to the high 70's or even 80's. Where this snake lives there is a pond that has standing water that is averaging about 62 degrees. Within the next few days a storm rolls in and the air temps drop to a high of 50. Yet the temperature of the water will not drop as drastically, therefore becoming a resource for the snake to maintain a higher than ambient air body temp. I have seen snakes in the field in the water when the air temps. are both higher and lower. I think you are confusing a humans need to keep an internal body temp. of 98.6 with a snakes use of it's surroundings to reach an ideal body temp. If a snake has the ability to reach the body temps. that are necessary for it to digest food, it will take advantage of it, eat and use those resources. If the snakes body needs to obtain 62 degrees or better to maintain it's immune system, whether by basking or setting in a 62 degree body of water. If a relatively warmer body of water is available, it will use it, or vise versa if it needs to maintain a cooler temp.

-Phil
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Work is the curse

of the drinking class!

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