Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a sonoran gopher snake that is puppy dog tame even when he's in shed. No hissing, tail rattling, or striking. However, last week on the hottest day we've had so far around here, the ambient was around 82 degrees inside his tub (it's usually around 78). When i took him out, he didn't hiss, but he did more like a heavy exhale and then rattled his tail. He didn't strike at me, but he was clearly behaving differently than he ever did before. He continued to rattle his tail a few more times over the next 10 minutes. He didn't exhale loudly anymore though. I remember reading somewhere that pits like it cool and can get moody when it gets too hot. Is this what happened to my gopher? Does anyone know more this topic? Thanks.

by tub, do you mean like a rubbermaid w/ a plastic lid & air holes punched in it? if that is the case, probably lack of adequate ventilation may be the culprit? i use 1/4'' hardware mesh on all my cages [tubs included] to allow a nice exchange of fresh air constantly. i think it's a much better way to keep snakes rather than trap them in artificial saunas w/ little fresh air exchange.....imho.

I have 70 holes on the lid and 80 holes on the sides. The humidity inside his tub is normally around 10% higher than the room's, so i think he's getting decent air exchange, but i'm also open to giving him more. I could solder more holes, or i could use the wire mesh like you suggested. How did you affix the mesh to your plastic tub? Thanks.

I actually firmly believe pits like it cooler, and I keep mine at 77-79 ambient temps with a nightime drop, even though lately it has been a little warmer, due to the Texas heat.

IMO, you hit the nail on the head.
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Genesis 1:1

Anybody would get cranky if stuck in a small hot box with inadequate ventilation.

My bull snake Alfonzo chilling in his water bowl yesterday, which was a hot day. His mate likes the big moist sphagnum moss hide to cool off in. They live in a 4 x 2 x 2 ft screen cage near the front door of the cabin, so they get plenty of fresh air. Pits tend to need lots of ventilation as they make BIG poops, and also need big cages as they are fairly active. The only time they are in tubs is when they are brumating over winter.

I have many tubs like this in assorted sizes for my reptiles, mostly used for brumation or baby snakes, or for the lizards so they can be put out on the front porch for UV. The screen top is 1/8 inch hardware cloth. This provides good ventilation in a tub. I use these for my mice as well, and mice for sure need ventilation! LOL! One must bungee or clamp the lid on if housing snakes in the tubs.

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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

What do you use to stick the screen to the lid? It looks like screws?

i use 1/4'' hexi screws installed from the inside out so the tips are on the outside. looks like pyromaniac does it pretty much the same way.

Actually having the screws tips face out is better. Although I have had no problems with the blunt machine screws facing in.

I use a jigsaw to cut the lid (let the lid sit in the sun so it is warm first, especially with the opaque Sterilite lids, which tend to shatter if cut when cold). I use #6 machine crews size 3/4 in, nuts and washers to fasten the wire on. I drill the holes with a power drill and install the screws. I bend the wire under all around the edges about an inch, so no scratchy edge to bother my hands. I run a bead of weather stripping around the cut of the tub so any animal that gets up to the inner edge cant get to the folded under wire.

Don't use hot glue; it is worthless in this application! Use binder clips on the lids if housing snakes. Mice and lizards don't need the clips.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Thank you very much for the detailed instructions. I'll give it a try.

Seems to me pits spend more time in cooler areas than many other snakes. However, at least for Sonorans, they will access very warm areas periodically to bask.

The best environment in a cage would offer a range of temps. Pretty easy in Spring but tough for me in Summer to provide a range that spans nice and cool to nice and warm.
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Mark

I'm curious.
I've talked to Discern about this ( his being a bad influence on me and all, getting me interested in Pits)

I havent really kept Pits much since I was a kid.

With Kingsnakes, pretty much giving them many choices from over 100 degrees or more to down as cool as you can get within your home works very well with letting them choose the Temp they want to be at like in nature while providing many hides to do it comfortably.

On the other hand as I look at many "care sheets" for Pits many say you must keep them cool and provide nothing higher than 85 to 90 drgrees for a hotspot on many sites.
I know Drys also spend a great deal of time in burrows like Pits and I see
warnings by their keepers of the importance of not letting them overheat posted often.

Why is not just letting them choose different for Pits?
With such large mass compared to kings , wouldn't you want them to have access to a very hot spot so they could warm up well when/if they want?

BTW I respectfully accept the thinking of folks that seriously have lots of experience with Pits. Just curious thanks.

I'm curious what they say too. Interesting subject.

I have Sonorans. It seems they are happier to stay in the 75-82 deg range more often than kingsnakes, but they do access a warmer basking spot too at times, sometimes around 88-90 deg. Kings are very dynamic with temps when offered.

Maybe the pits subterranean life allows them a cooler temp range? Kings are certainly subterranean too but seem more active near the surface than pits. Just a guess from seeing snakes in my area. Gophersnakes are more readily found where I live on the crawl on slightly cooler days. Kings can be found on cool days but usually basking under AC warming in the sun.
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Mark

have gotten some responses. LOL