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On most of the care sheets I have read for rainbows, it says temps over 85 can be fatal. Is this a rule or more a guideline? Is it something they could adjust too? I ask because I am considering getting a pair but my snake room is my garage and I live in S FL so there are about three months a year where the ambients run from a NTL of about 80 to DTH of around 90 or a little above. The temps only hit those highs for a few hours each day.

I currently keep CA boas, amazon trees, tiger rats, corns, yellow rats and bp's out there (the boas and ammies breed every year too) and I have never had any problems with adult or neonate animals suffering due to the heat. In my 30 years of keeping all kinds of herps, I have never kept any kind of Epicrates, but I don't want to even think about bringing some young'uns in if there's a likely chance they would not thrive in my care.

Thanks in advance,
Billy

Depending on the thermal mass of the cage, it might not go over the 85 degrees inside. Of course you would need to monitor it to see and yeah, temps over 85 are life threatening. Depends on how much over, how long and if the snake can escape to a cooler spot in the cage. Also I'm sure some individuals would do better than others.

IMO one big concern is how hot does your garage get? Depending on construction, sun exposure etc. it could be going over the ambient temps. And with typical days of 90, do you run into hot spells over that?

>>On most of the care sheets I have read for rainbows, it says temps over 85 can be fatal. Is this a rule or more a guideline? Is it something they could adjust too? I ask because I am considering getting a pair but my snake room is my garage and I live in S FL so there are about three months a year where the ambients run from a NTL of about 80 to DTH of around 90 or a little above. The temps only hit those highs for a few hours each day.
>>
>>I currently keep CA boas, amazon trees, tiger rats, corns, yellow rats and bp's out there (the boas and ammies breed every year too) and I have never had any problems with adult or neonate animals suffering due to the heat. In my 30 years of keeping all kinds of herps, I have never kept any kind of Epicrates, but I don't want to even think about bringing some young'uns in if there's a likely chance they would not thrive in my care.
>>
>>Thanks in advance,
>>Billy
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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

Thanks for the reply Dave. I think you answered my question in your second sentence. During the hotter summer months, the temp will hit well above 85 every single day for a few hours, so I'm thinking I will have to pass on rainbows, at least with my current snake room setup.

>>Depending on the thermal mass of the cage, it might not go over the 85 degrees inside. Of course you would need to monitor it to see and yeah, temps over 85 are life threatening. Depends on how much over, how long and if the snake can escape to a cooler spot in the cage. Also I'm sure some individuals would do better than others.
>>
>>IMO one big concern is how hot does your garage get? Depending on construction, sun exposure etc. it could be going over the ambient temps. And with typical days of 90, do you run into hot spells over that?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>>On most of the care sheets I have read for rainbows, it says temps over 85 can be fatal. Is this a rule or more a guideline? Is it something they could adjust too? I ask because I am considering getting a pair but my snake room is my garage and I live in S FL so there are about three months a year where the ambients run from a NTL of about 80 to DTH of around 90 or a little above. The temps only hit those highs for a few hours each day.
>>>>
>>>>I currently keep CA boas, amazon trees, tiger rats, corns, yellow rats and bp's out there (the boas and ammies breed every year too) and I have never had any problems with adult or neonate animals suffering due to the heat. In my 30 years of keeping all kinds of herps, I have never kept any kind of Epicrates, but I don't want to even think about bringing some young'uns in if there's a likely chance they would not thrive in my care.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks in advance,
>>>>Billy
>>-----
>>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

Yeah, I really hate to steer you away from BRB's but even more I'd hate to see you lose them due to your temps.
-----
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

I totally agree. Been keeping all kinds of herps forever and have killed my fair share due to stupid mistakes. Well I'm 40 now and try not to make stupid mistakes that could cost a life anymore.

Thanks again Dave.

>>Yeah, I really hate to steer you away from BRB's but even more I'd hate to see you lose them due to your temps.
>>-----
>>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

Yes over 85 is not good. My point of view is that a rainbow can have a spot in its enclosure (cage or tub) that is at or even a bit above 85 - as long as it has cooler spots to thermoregulate. I would also keep any hides away from the hot spot.

The room set up you describe does not sound like there would be a cooler spot for the rainbow to go to, so not a good situation for the snake.

Do you know the actual temps inside your cages or tubs? I would think that the cage or tub would insulate a bit and the temps may be a bit less than the room at the room's hotest time. Also, can you put tinting on windows to reduce any affect direct sun-light has on the room (if there are windows)?
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Mike

7.13 BRB
1.2 Spotted Python
1.0 Cal. King

BTW, I have my BCI room in the garage and it's very well insulated. Even on the days where the garage itself was an inferno, the BCI room was it's normal temps!!

but that's around 85 anyways.....
-----
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