Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have an animal plastics rack 1756 10 tubs but only 4 balls in it
i have the rack at my shop and i have an overhead heater that i leave my thermostat at about 69 but the rack is on the second floor of the shop and so the room temp stays about 78 but got my heat bill today and it was over 200.00 ridiculous i really keep the heat at that temp cause i house my snakes there otherwise i would keep the heat at 55 as i have a seasonal business and not there in the winter except for my snakes. so sorry for the rant just want to be clear so i keep my rack temp at 100 and the hot spot gets about 88-90 and the cool side about 80 now i also been cooling them for breeding for over a month now do you guys think one month of cooling is enough? as i would like to stop the night drop and instead just lower my room temp down a bit so my heating bill isnt that stupid next month? i have also felt follicoles in both of my females. again instead of using the night drop at night i would rather just lower my overhead heater and not do the night drop anymore? thanks for any help!!

no need to cool. especially if youve already felt follicles then they have already cycled and are on their way to ovulation. i wouldnt cool them at this point. most breeders that do cool have just pulled their breeders out of brumation in the last month or so.
just be glad you dont live here in ny where are heating bills run about 4-600 a month right now. February will be the worst month yet though always the coldest.
adam jeffery
-----
" a.k.a. farfrumugen "
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

You two must have fairly sizable collections, correct? Because we heat both our racks and our room, along with all the other energy the house uses, and our bill tops out around $110 with both natural gas and electricity. Do you guys insulate your rack systems?
-----
Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.1 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 Whitesided P. catenifer sayi, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

nah i live in a old house here in ny. its very drafty. we heat totally with natural gas. i heat the snake room with an electric space heater and then racks are heated as well. bills are always high here in ny during the winter
adam jeffery
-----
" a.k.a. farfrumugen "
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

I'm in Nebraska where it's getting pretty cold as well. I added an extra layer of insulation to my rack systems to lower my heating costs. I only keep the room around 70 degrees, racks are set at 89, hot spots vary from 86-92 degrees depending on location in the rack. Works well for me since I have multiple species and some of the BPs like it cooler for some reason.

I just bought the 4'X8'X0.5" boards of insulation with the foil on one side. Attached them to the outside of the racks with tape. Works like a charm.
-----
Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.1 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 Whitesided P. catenifer sayi, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

thanks for the tip. im hoping to actually build an outbuilding this summer if possable. back up generator and all. that way i would have an extra room in the house.....lol
adam jeffery
-----
" a.k.a. farfrumugen "
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

bring 4 balls to the house...use cage heat at 95...and turn heat at shop to 50...

???
-----
........JY

not an option to bring home!!!!