Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Not exactly something you'd find in a care sheet but would burning incense potentially harm a snake? Not next to the cage, but in the same room.

don't know about incenc but i burn candles occasionally and have not had a problem. the candles are not in the same room however.

First of all, burning incense releases potentially dangerous particulates into the air that are harmful to people and other air breathing organisms.

Secondly, snakes sample their environment to a large degree by odor. Filling the air with smoke and particulates that you find pleasant is more than likely to lead to increase stress levels in your snake.

I'm sure you will find a few folks who will say "Oh, I've been doing it for years and my python Mephistopheles really loves it" or " he doesn't mind". But you will also find lots of people who get away with not keeping their cages and waterbowls clean. Just because the snake doesn't keel over and die doesn't mean it isn't harmful/stressful. I believe our responsibilities as the keepers it to minimize potential stressors. Not burning incense is an easy one to minimize.
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Chris Harrison

Here is a link to a review of a scientific study done on the potential harmful effects of incense. The study found that burning incense in a poorly ventilated area produces levels of benzopyrenes (a strongly suspected carcinogen) that were 45 times higher than levels found in houses of smokers and 118 times higher than houses without an introduced source.

And remember, this study only looked at PAH levels. There are undoubtedly other volatile and particulate chemicals released that are equally problematic.

And when you burn incense in the room, you get to leave occasionally to get some unpolluted air. Your snake is exposed 24/7.

BTW - I am not trying to nag you here, but I have long felt this was in important issue for animal owners to consider (I feel equally strongly about smoking in the snake's room as well - and I am a former 15 year pack-a-day smoker). You just happened to bring it up and I though it a good opportunity for others here to consider the potential consequences of the activity.

article describing one danger of burning incense

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Chris Harrison

Thanks Chris,

I totally agree it's our responsibility to make the artificial environment we create for our snakes (and any other pets) as safe as possible.

I've never burned incense in a room with a snake, and hadn't really planed to. But I will soon be moving a new snake from home to my apartment at school (where I have burnt incense in the past) and that sparked the question. Thanks for the input. I was expecting to maybe get a few opinions...but no scientific data. That helps

While we're on the topic of possible harmful agents in a snake room...is their anything in the spectrum of a black light that would bother a snake or other reptile? I've noticed that there are black-light type heat lamps at pet shops (for nocturnal animals). Does that produce the same sort of light that a normal black light emits?

When you say "normal blacklight"...what exactly are you referring to? The flourescet vs incandescant types? These are going to give you the exact (or close to exact as they can get) same wavelengths. As i've said before, I keep all 4 of my ratsnakes under blacklights 24/7 (for heating purposes) and havent had a problem. They get their day/night cycles from natural light I let into my room.
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
1) Female Licorice Stick Black Rat snake - Lola
2) Neonate Black Rat snake (Het for Lic Stk's) - Frankie
3 & 4) 2 Bairds Rat snakes - Rosa and Jose

Woops sorry, I wasn't too specific (the thought sounds specific in your head...but doesn't always translate through the typing).

By "normal black light" (nice vague term), I just mean a black light not specifically bought at a pet store (the type for dorm rooms and such that you might find at Walmart of Spencers). And, more specifically, the black light isn't used to light the cage, but the room the cage is in. The snake (a baby indigo) is diurnal and I have a full spectrum light that I keep on during the day. The black lights are left over in the appartment from when I used to have a sugar glider (a nocturnal marsupial). I had those lights so I could do my work at night without blinding him with harsh illumination. I'd like to keep the lights so that I can do the same (I work on my computer at night) and not keep the snake up.

I'm just saying I have the lights directly on the cage and it's not doing any harm to them so if they're that close and not doing harm I dont see how ambient blacklight can do harm. You may also want to consider red light. It will shine brighter, you could put it in a desk lamp or such, however the reptiles eyes can't detect that low of the spectrum. By the way a what kind of snakes do you have? I'm presuming a "full spectrum reptile bulb" is the same as a "daylight bulb" from a pet store. Those are no better than a cheapo soft white bulb from walmart or home depot, depending on your species. Colubrids (and I dont think many other species) need UV-B light for digestion, so the expensive $6 bulb is a marketing ploy - i.e. waste of money. For a while I kept the soft white bulbs over my cage during the day and the blacklight at night, but I got too lazy to change back and forth so now they get a blacklight 24/7, the window is going to keep their dirunal cycle in line. Also what you may want to consider is that really bright light scaring your snake. I found out that mine wouldnt ever come out of the cave/hide spot when i had the bright white light shining down...that it was too bright. so now that i went to blacklight all the time she's out a lot more.

my 2 cents
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat(Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)

“During some major ceremonies, hundreds or even more than a thousand sticks are burnt at the same time," says Lin. "Sometimes the visibility is so low you can't see clearly across the room.”

Not exactly your typical home situation for someone who might burn one stick of koh a day. It would be interesting to have a little more detail on that study. Also, I believe the composition of incense varies considerably, from something which is basically just a stick dipped in some chemicals and sold for pennies (most likely what is being burned in those temples), to products composed of many “natural” ingredients which sell for the equivalent of $7000/pound (at least in one catalog I’ve seen).

Of course, I can’t think of anything off the top of my head that you would ignite, burn, and breathe the combustion products of that would be good for you, strictly speaking.

All things in moderation – and keep the door to your herp room closed! By the way, August 23rd marks the 15th anniversary of my quitting a 3 pack a day, 22 year tobacco habit. Now THAT was some nasty smoke to subject everyone around me to!