Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In the last few months I've been really interested in the Bull/Pine/Gopher snakes for a variety of reasons. I keep all my snakes in the basement where the ambient temps are around 60 degrees in the winter, 70-72 in Spring, Fall and 75-78 in the Summer. I also use under tank heaters in all the tanks and so far, all the snakes are doing fine. I've read that pits are tolerant and even prefer cooler temps over other types of snakes. Does my basement temps pose any problems for various pits? Do you feel I'll need to heat the basement to warmer temps for this group of snakes? I'm trying to locate a good group of snakes that can tolerate these temps safely.

Pits, in my opinion, do better in cooler temps than in temps like in the mid 80's or so that some may keep kings at.

"70-72 in Spring, Fall and 75-78 in the Summer"

That may be a little cool for them in those temps for the spring and fall, but perfect temps you have for the summer. I keep all of mine at 76-78-82 year round. If there is a way you can raise the temps a hair in the spring, I would suggest that. Other than that....seems like you have the perfect temps going for you, and pits are awesome snakes, the best I have ever owned.

Take care!
Billy
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Genesis 1:1

With the tanks in the basement I have to adjust my temps when I turn off the ac and turn on the heat then again when I turn off the heat and turn on the ac. I have a rheostat on my big tank and have been changing bulbs on the smaller tanks. Currently I am redoing my snake tanks and will probably go to heat on a rheostat for all of them and lights on timers. The rheostats are standard ones found at Home Depot. The wired in timers are a little harder to find. I use Intermatic ss7c. They work the best with flourescent lights.

Mike B