Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi. I'm going to be out of town for about a week and a half. And I don't have a timer or time to get one. If I turn the light off in my retics's cage it get's really cold becuase it's 40 degrees in June and my apartment complex has shut off the heat for the summer. Also, when I turn out the light, she gets cold and pushes on the door to her Neodesha until I turn it back on. Retics are amazing. Anyway, my question is, can she be harmed by having the light on 24 hours a day for 10 days straight? becuae of how cold it's been, it's already been on for 2 days now. I'm just wondering if there are any bad effects from that. Are there any cycles that can be thrown off and then be detrimental to the snakes? I do not wanna do that. I would really appreciate anyone's help. Thanks alot.

Hi.

It doesn't look like you have much of a choice. That's why I use radiant heat panels. Others use ceramic heat emitters. This way the heat is not dependent on light.

Also, you're in trouble if a bulb burns out while you're away! Got spares? Play it safe and put new ones in.

Anyway, if this is the only setup you can provide for those 10 days, if you have a hiding place that should be OK. If you don't, I'd suggest putting some slightly crumpled newspaper in the cool end of the cage so the snake can get under it where it's darker.

Also, make sure the water crocks can't be tipped over.

Bill

It would be WAY more risky for your retic to be very cold than it would be to throw of her photoperiod a little. In the 70's and early 80's I used light bulbs for heating individual cages and had over 100 lighs on at any one time in my snake room.It was brighter than the brightest summer day in there. The snakes all acted normally, fed normally, and bred normally. I was young and didn't know then that they *prefer* night and day cycles. But though they undoubtedly prefer it, it is not crucial for their survival. But as for you,.. in all honesty this post bothers me a little. No,.. a lot. If your appartment can get down to 40 degrees, and you don't have proper heating, a thermostat, or even a timer,.. then you have no business owning that snake. 40 degrees is 35 whole degrees lower than the lowest temps they should be exposed to. If you have such extreme temperature problems I would suggest that you buy an oil-type space heater and heat that room she is in! Then focus on the cage. Cough up 35 bucks for a thermostat and install proper heating. Man, you are just begging for a cronically ill snake or an eventual dead snake the way you have it now.

>>Hi. I'm going to be out of town for about a week and a half. And I don't have a timer or time to get one. If I turn the light off in my retics's cage it get's really cold becuase it's 40 degrees in June and my apartment complex has shut off the heat for the summer. Also, when I turn out the light, she gets cold and pushes on the door to her Neodesha until I turn it back on. Retics are amazing. Anyway, my question is, can she be harmed by having the light on 24 hours a day for 10 days straight? becuae of how cold it's been, it's already been on for 2 days now. I'm just wondering if there are any bad effects from that. Are there any cycles that can be thrown off and then be detrimental to the snakes? I do not wanna do that. I would really appreciate anyone's help. Thanks alot.
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The fastest way to achieve great wealth is by living more poorly for much longer.

One word to solve your problem...Timers.
A herpers' best friend.

One question...no offense intended...

...In the 20 years you have kept many a retic, have you never gone away for more than ten days? If so, how did they deal with the temps then?
It just seems that a person should know how to troubleshoot stuff like this if they have more than a few years' experience with reptiles in general. Once again...no offense. Let us all be civil in our conversation.

-Yasser
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"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
- Mario Andretti

I was just looking for an answer on short notice. Actually, no I haven't had this problem before. Usually I can control the ambient temperature but with nothing to do that with because they shut the heat off already for the year, it became an issue. I know, I'm surprised it has never came up before. I love my retics the most out of my whole collection. They are my favorite snakes in general and I didn't wanna do anything to jeopardize them. That's why I asked. That's what these forums are for. To get advice from fellow hobbyists, not ridicule and persecution from complete strangers. Thanks for the comments. I appreciate those.

I thought you said your apartment was 40 degrees too because the word "outside" was left out from your first post. Brian was just trying to help you...and you did ask for help. He was worried for your snake, which is the only reason he came on strong, and that's an admirable thing. Please do not come to a forum, ask for advice and then sling insults at those that try to give you the help you are asking for.

Now, back to your question...I wouldn't bother getting a timer, not for the purpose of a ten day absense. It's fine if you want the light bulb to go off at 9 and you wont be home until midnight, etc. but in this case, I wouldn't use the lightbulb at all. If you aren't going to be there to see that's it's working, you're taking a huge risk. Lightbulbs burn out for no reason sometimes. I would be worried that the bulb burned out 3 days into the 10 day "vacation" and we all know a week without heat in 40 degree weather can kill a tropical snake. It's not a risk I would take.

Instead, I would buy a heating pad to go under the tank. It will cost a little more money than a timer but your retic needs a reliable heat source.

If it 40 degrees outside then why did they turn of the heat? Were are you from usually june or july is summer wether is very hot! You also could use under tank heating? for warnth have you ever thought of that? Just leave the lights off until you get back no harm should be done to the snake as fay as my knowledge takes me? do you have a big enough envirement for the retic how big is the cage ?