Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys! I've volunteered to bring a few of my snakes to a Nature Day at a local park as an educational display (I have a couple locals, and my python as a cheap 'wow factor').

The only thing is, the event is going to be outside. I've been able to secure a shaded location, but knowing Texas it might be like 100f. The snakes will be provided cool water at all times courtesy of the refreshment stand, but is there anything else I could do for them to keep them comfortable in their displays? A battery-powered fan aimed at the tanks?

Also, I'm worried my smaller snake might tump over his water, and the brilliant plan occurred to me to maybe put a tough, clean magnet in the bowl with another magnet on the underside of the tank. Would this work for the day, or would the magnet give off something bad I'm not aware of that would be a danger to a rat?

I have a black milksnake which stresses out at temperatures above 80F. In the summer on really hot days I put a small bin of ice water on top of the enclosure (screen lid) and cool air just falls into the tank. I've never used it outside but it essentially accomplishes what you might need.

Ooo, all of my displays are screen-tops too. Really great plan, thanks!

Ice is great, and when you run out of ice, or it's melteed away, a simple water spritz will lolwer twmps as iot evaporates. You can keep this up for a long while.
Also - shade is an absolute must!
-----
Jack Jeansonne

I agree with this, too. Misting and lots of shade!
Maybe bring a temp gun with you to be sure.

I was also an outdoor show in Austin last year and there was a booth, I think run by TPWD, that had some herps. The would rotate them out every ten minutes or so and kept them in bags set in boxes behind the table. There was also another booth, though, that had all it's snakes in plastic and glass cages and they seemed to do fine even though it was very hot. Still, it would make me nervous.
-----
---
http://www.mikefoux.com
http://www.cafepress.com/shedz

1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo, Het Anery
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Pueblan Hypo
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.1.0 California King Blue-eyed Blond
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
1.0.0 San Diego Gopher, Poss. Het Applegate
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Wife, Caucasius Mexicana

A friend of mine does shows with many small glass tanks. The tanks are put around the parameter of a table without any gaps between. In the center, he puts a couple bags of ice. Then a board on top (another level of tanks in his case) to hold the cool in the center.
This has gotten his many reptiles and amphibians through several California summer daytime shows.
This still must be done in the shade, and temps should be checked often.
On really hot days, I would consider keeping an ice chest full of ice with you for emergencies too- (like if your car breaks down along the highway, or your a/c quits) or at least have a plan on what you would do if that happened.