Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am starting to run out of room inside the house . . So i was wondering if anyone has ever kept there boas outside? Im not talking in the back yard i mean on the porch/padio/garage, basically it wont be exposed to the elements (rain etc) but more the temperature issue. Oh also i am in florida so i assume the tropical climate makes a big difference.

the only cold time of the year is of course now, and it still doesnt really get below 50*, and still gets up to 75-80 durring the day.

Also, it would of course have a heat light/pad on it.

thanks
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Russ
1.0 Basset Hound (Goofy)
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Apollo)
1.0 Columbian Rainbow Boa (Odin)
1.0 Guyana Red-Tail Boa (Ares)
0.1 Pastel Salmon Boa (Minerva)
0.1 Rosy Boa (Athena)
0.1 Dumeril (Puzzle)
1.4 leopard Geckos (the breeders)
0.1 Sandfire Beardy (breeder)
Melbourne, Fl

Hey, man!
I don't know about that one. I think I live about 20 minutes or so from you and I wouldn't.
Even the temps right now I think would be too cold. You may be able to get the hot spots to the temps you want them, but the ambient temps would be no good.
Aaron

I do, but I also have 2 ambient heaters in the garage to keep the temps under control when we get these cold spells (I'm in Orlando).

If its a drastic night, I'll err on the side of caution and move them in temporarily. Those days are few and far between though.

I have zero issues with RI's, regurg's, or overall health. The heaters typically do the job. That said, I cringe when I think about what they do to my electric bill on those nights.

That would work with supplemental heat and air.
What do you do in the summer?
I've temp gunned my garage at temps over 120.

120 is way high, mine doesn't get close to that, but the door is always open during the summer months as I'm not at work at that time. That may or may not be the difference. I also keep a fan running for extra circulation. Again, no regurg's, no casing, no excessive soaking, no nose rubbing. Appetites and routines are consistent. They don't seem to have an issue with the high temp. days.

Again though, if we get hit with any type of extreme, they come inside until it blows over.

Dale

I'm in the Orlando area as well. I kept my boa in the garage last spring and summer, but moved him inside around October when the temps were cooling. I didn't have any heat supply and I was getting new AP cages as well. Now the plan is to convert half the garage into a herp room and move a few back out there again.

Here's what I found through the year. Even during the hottest part of the summer, the temps in garage never exceeded 90. When we had our cold snap and temps were low 30's with wind chills in the 20's, my garage didn't dip below 50. I felt like this is a range I can work with, so when I convert my room, I just need a heater and I run a fan in the summer for ventilation. There is a window, but I'm not sure if I'll keep it or install a window unit.

If my temps were higher or lower in the garage, it would be a tough call for me. I would worry about my animals and I wouldn't want to spend the money controlling the climate. I've never had RI or regurg in my years of keeping herps and I'd like to keep that record!

I agree!
I was wondering how you guys were doing that without a window unit. i guess my garage just gets a LOT hotter. I think we're going to have to knock put a window so we can get a window unit.
Does anyone know of something like a portable ac that doesn't need a vent?
Our garage has no window and I'd rather not put one there if I don't have to.

It can be done. When I moved to Fl. I keep mine on the porch until the snake room was done and I got all my boxes built. During the cold temps I resorted to throwing a heavy blanket over their boxes.

experiment I've kept 3 Cuban Boas[Epicrates angulifer] outside all year in a large 6 x 6 x4' cage. Its on the ground with a hide box and cover. The only protection I've given them was a plastic cover the night it got to 39 degrees. I fed them today and they've leaned up and actually look better than when I kept them inside. Exercize I'm sure has been a great factor in their appearance. They bask regurlarly and are in perfect health. Since my farm is in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. our average temps in Jan. are a high of 75-76 and a low of 59 degrees. If it works well I may try other species next year with minor modifications such as a heating pad under the hide box. Time will tell.thanks....TC

Also, If you wanted to brumate it would certainly put them on a good schedule.
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Russ
1.0 Basset Hound (Goofy)
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Apollo)
1.0 Columbian Rainbow Boa (Odin)
1.0 Guyana Red-Tail Boa (Ares)
0.1 Pastel Salmon Boa (Minerva)
0.1 Rosy Boa (Athena)
0.1 Dumeril (Puzzle)
1.4 leopard Geckos (the breeders)
0.1 Sandfire Beardy (breeder)
Melbourne, Fl

Like some of the others, I'm in South Florida and my herp room is my garage. Also like some of the others, my temps stay pretty consistent. This time of year they average mid-80's for the DTH and mid to low-70's for NTL. If I think it's going to get too cold I have a small space heater that does the trick. Summer actually tends to stress me out more since the temps have climbed up into the mid and occasionally, upper-90's. The problem with those hot spells is that the temps don't drop below the mid-80's for days sometimes with highs every day in the 90's. But, somehow, all the snakes seem to do just fine with it.

Billy

i keep all of my boas in the garage. i live in southern california, i have a space heater for the winter time and a window AC unit for the summer. my boas dont seem to have a problem...
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