If these are temperate zone snakes like kingsnakes, then the cool end of the cage can be as low as 55 deg no problem.



You can still provide a heat pad.



Some snakes will continue to feed, perhaps on a reduced schedule, and some may quit altogether.



If the air temp drops below 55, then have a bulb on a thermostat set to a low temp. I use either 7 or 15 watt bulbs for just this purpose depending on the size of the cage. With those low wattages I do not need a dimmer.



I keep some kings and milks in an outdoor shed. Nights are very cool now. I leave a heated end of the cage. They stay mostly on the cool end. If they eat, they will use the warm end as needed (often for just short basks) then return to the cool end. I have no regurges or problems, and the snakes do not get thin over Winter. And it doesn't impede breeding in the Spring at all. In fact, my females look extremely robust in Spring.





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Mark

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• when to use heat lamps in unheated room? - Lenrely, Mon Oct 26 23:45:43 2009
• RE: when to use heat lamps in unheated room? - Bighurt, Tue Oct 27 00:39:59 2009
• RE: when to use heat lamps in unheated room? - markg, Tue Oct 27 13:13:54 2009