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What does everyone do in the event of a power loss?
How long can the snake last without the heaters?

We have the possibility of severe storms today, and just a routine summer thunderstorm will knock out the power in my rural home for at least an hour, so I'm almost positive I'll loose power today.

As long as the snakes haven't eaten just prior to the power outage, they should be ok. They may regurgitate their meal if they aren't warm enough to digest it. I've dealt with power outages quite a bit here (hurricane Isabelle took our power out for 10 days last year). If you are really concerned, here are some options... get a generator for back up power (which is expensive), or you could try the chemical heat packs (handwarmers) they sell in sporting goods stores. For a short power outage you could hook up a UPS to your heat source, like the sell for computers. Also, if you cover the cage with a towel or blanket, that will trap some of the heat inside. If you've got a camp stove you can heat some water and use a hot water bottle as a heat source. I've thought about this a lot, haven't I? My snakes have done fine when the power has gone off- even during three days in the winter a few years ago due to an ice storm. It was unplanned brumation, and luckily no one had been fed that week.
Hope that sets your mind at ease.
Lora

I had a BAD power loss last winter. My three Bps were sluggish and cold when we got home, after a whole day of 50-degree temps in the house and NO power. Their tongues were practically lolling out of their faces, they were moving so slow. I put them in my shirt for body heat, while my boyriend set up a kerosene heater. No one died, but I wish we had had a backup generator. We'll be getting one before this winter, definately. I would highly recommend one; they are not that expensive anymore. And when you live in No man's land like we do, you need one!
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Go to you local best buy or comp usa and pick up a back-up battery supply that is made for computers...They run from $100-$200 depending on the amount of storage the battery can house....Though during the summer time I wouldn't worry too much about your bp's cooling down if your power goes out for a while....But if u are breeding bp's a back-up battery supply is good idea to have your incubator hooked up too..

My young BP doesn't use his heat padd, he's rather curl up behind a water bowl and stay warm by himself, or go ontop of the vision cage up above the door and cram himself there, no heat for his character, of course the cage heat and humidity is fine, i just find it weird and ive check the heat on the UTH i have towels to disburse it
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My roomates are 1BP,1BCI2corns,Rotti,3cats,desert scorpions, and snake food AKA the food chain. See my kids at: http://community.webshots.com/user/diggy415

It would really depend on how cold the temperature gets in your area. In the summer, I wouldn't worry about it since snakes don't need UVB light like other reptiles do and most snakes can tolerate 60-70F temperatures for a short time. Even if just fed I think they will be fine in short power outages (under 8 hours). If the power is out for several days, I still wouldn't be worried unless the temperature drops substantially outside.

Power failures in the winter here I am more concern with due to the fact where I am it can get as cold as -35 C (around -31 F) so getting back up heat would be adviseable. Though, unless your home has poor insulation, an hour or two outage wouldn't be much of a problem. Then again I have natural gas heat so no power won't be any worry, well except for my snake's food thawing in the freezer..but with temps like that, don't need the freezer, outside is cold enough and I can just put a cooler with all the frozen food in the backyard.

That said, getting a backup generator or one of those mastercraft power supplies (The Eliminator I think it's called) would be good for longer power outages and in areas were having long outages of power is common. Or a natural gas fireplace would be good to (though you can't move the fireplace like you can other types of heaters). It really would depend on how many snakes you have and how they are situated. If you have a large collection in a single room, insulate it well and a backup generator would be good to keep the power on, or some other form of non-electric heating (maybe solar panels would be helpful if you want to spend alot of money).

Due to 60 eggs cookin and near 50 Ball pythons, I bought a used generator about 2 years ago. I paid $450 for it and use it every month. I picked it up at a local auction. Now when the power goes out, I can run my snake room/racks incubator, and either my microwave or PC.

I only do this because of my growing collection. I think a few heatpacks could help outa bit in case of a short term power disruption.

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www.NEWReptiles.com

>>What does everyone do in the event of a power loss?
>>How long can the snake last without the heaters?
>>
>>We have the possibility of severe storms today, and just a routine summer thunderstorm will knock out the power in my rural home for at least an hour, so I'm almost positive I'll loose power today.
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- Joel

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sig file edited.

Edited on July 22, 2004 at 17:19:50 by phwyvern.