Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I feel so lucky to have all these ball python owners at the tip of my fingertips!
When I am at work during the day, and the window air conditioner is off, it gets pretty hot in my apartment (east coast summers). Yesterday, when I got home, the warm side was up to about 100. I freaked out and did a few things to cool it down, but my question is, how hot is too hot? I know about the temperature gradient and day to nighttime changes, but what is the upper limit?
Thanks again..I am obsessed with this snake! LOL.

Green iguanas died in laboratory tests at around 116 degrees. Ball Pythons should be able to handle a few more degrees, but I don't know what the long term effects could possibly be from prolonged exposure to the high temperatures.

Keep a large water dish available - allow the snake to soak if it needs to (whole body).

Mark

I don't think there has ever been a study done on that. Reptiles seem to be comfortable with the basking spot available to them at 90-110 degree. But if it gets hot in your house I would turn the heating system off or get a much lower wattage bulb from the store. From what I read about ball pythons from the new edition of "The Ball Python Manual" by Philippe de Vosjolis, 1997, it said the basking spot should be around 90-95 degree, growing snakes tend to seek higher temperature. Mine spends all day at the hidebox at the basking site, and the temperature reaches 90-95.

The basking spot should be between 90-95 degrees. But be aware, as the ambient temperature in your room rises above 90-95 degrees so will the temperature of your basking spot. Ambient temperatures above 100 could put your basking spot temp in a lethal range.
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