Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A couple of months ago I added a couple of andean and black milks to my collection. From the beginning I have kept at room temp (25 C) and they have all eaten and digested fine. Last week I gave a bigger prey item to everyone, but I had an andean female regurgitate. So I was wondering if temperature was the issue. I then tried a black milk in another rack with my hondos. The temps are 30 on the hot side and 24 on the other side... He still is eating fine.

How do you guys keep your specimens and what is your opinion regarding the temperatures they should have?

Thanks for your time
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Nicholas Bertrand

I have never kept andeans, but with my gaigeae, I have always kept them at room temp with no supplemental heat source. As long as they are eating and digesting alright, you're in good shape. I have had some other snakes regurge if the food item was too big. Maybe that was the case with your andean?

Dave
DNS Reptiles

Thanks Dave for taking the time to answer my question.
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Nicholas Bertrand

Hey Nik,
I keep both gaigeae and andesiana at room temps as well. I know of other people that have heated snake rooms (up to 80 F) who keep these species as well. Everyone with these rooms did keep their animals in the lower part of the snake racks to keep them as cool as possible. It sounds like the high temps in your enclosure (86 F) may be responsible for the regurge episode. Lower the warm side down 5-6 degrees and they should do fine (around 26.6 C).

I just love that "before and after" picture. Awesome. I'm excited that my 2yr old black milk is almost solid black now. Such cool snakes.

Thanks Phil...

The andean that regurgitated was kept at room temp... Thats why I wondered if the LOW temps were the cause, but I believe the size of the prey was the cause and not the temps.

But thanks for your advice, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one keeping those with no additionnal heat source.

By the way Phil, I have some of your 06 babies that are "blackening" very nicely!!! Those are some killer gaigeae you produce! Continue to do so
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Nicholas Bertrand