Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Had an interesting discussion last night with Brian Gundy on thermoregulation of albino females during gestation.

Point being why a larger area of lower heat would be better than a smaller area of higher heat.

I was speculating that color plays a part in heat conductivity, not just absorption of radiation energy.

Found this on the net...

Radiation:
Objects emit radiation when high energy electrons in a higher atomic level fall down to lower energy levels. The energy lost is emitted as light or electromagnetic radiation. Energy that is absorbed by an atom causes its electrons to "jump" up to higher energy levels. All objects absorb and emit radiation. When the absorption of energy balances the emission of energy, the temperature of an object stays constant. If the absorption of energy is greater than the emission of energy, the temperature of an object rises. If the absorption of energy is less than the emission of energy, the temperature of an object falls.

Could it simply be lighter colored objects emit more than they absorb? So albino females would be greater energy (heat) losers than their non albino counterparts?

Would love to hear any other thoughts on the subject.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thermal mass always comes into play, and is a big factor in heat retention. A 30lb, 6ft. female will retain more heat than a 25lb, 6ft. Female though they may look identical and both be Albino. Something alot of people won't compensate for is the fact that the bigger Females may run into more complications LOSING heat, rather than retaining. I do beleive alot of bad litters can be contributed to that, but is blamed on other things, including skin pigment.

Dave, thats interesting, kind of on the topic we had discussed the other day. I've got a het girl who is def gravid that sits 4 levels up in a 4x2 enclosure and I've got my albino girl who I believe(hope & pray)lol is gravid who sits up right next to her in a the same exact type of enclosure with the same heat, same ambient temps, same hot and cold side reads when I shoot them, and yet my dark het girl is always 88-90 and my albino is 86-87.
Here is my albino today, once again on the heat, but not tightly coiled, which def gets me worrying.
Ralph

Dave:

I am no scientist, but like I said last night we are not talking about the transfer of heat through radiation we are talking about the transfer of heat throught conductivity.

I agree that a darker object will absorb more radiated heat than a lighter colored object. I know that If I was walking on a road barefoot on a very hot day I would choose to walk on the white lines of the road rather than the black area of the asphalt. I know that through radiation that darker objects obsorb more heat.

With conductive heat it is more a question of mass. An object with more mass will take longer to heat up, but will also hold its temperature longer than an object of less mass. I honestly don't think it has anything to do with what color the mass is, but how much mass it has. Remember our boas are absorbing heat through conductivity.

I believe that if two snakes of equal weight and mass were laying on a warm road late at night and there was no moon out. Both snakes would eventually reach and hold the same temperature. It wouldn't matter if they were blue, yellow, black or white. The heat that would transfer to both snakes would be equal therefore both snakes temperature would be the same.

Like I said I am no scientist, but I personally don't buy into the thought that an albino snake has more or less of an issue with thermo regulating.

Just my $.02

Brian

-----
Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

I love this place!!!
jsc
-----
"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Here's another thought.

If thermo regulation is an issue with snakes lacking melanin (sp) ie albinos, then how do we explain white eggs doing so well.

Food for thought......

Brian
-----
Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com