Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was so worried that our power would go out with all the ice and snow. But we have no fire place or woodburning stove..What would I do with all my snakes and lizards? I keep having visions of me forcing my family to stuff snakes and lizards down thier shirts to keep them warm..what if the power were off for several days? Anyone have any way to prepare for something like this?
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0.1 South Texas bullsnake
1.0 Eastern Kingsnake
1.0 apricot pueblan milksnake
0.0.1 Northern BTS (Huffy)
1.1 Ball Pythons
1.0 Western Hognose (Fuego)
1.1 cornsnakes (Asmodeus and Strawberry)
0.2 Bearded dragons (itchy and scratchy)
0.1 Rosehair T. (Jigglypuff)
1.0 dog BC..(Kippy)
2.1 cats (Thomas,Sunflower,Diablo)

The most affected snakes would be those ball pythons of yours.

Anyway, you can purchase cases of those small heat packs for quite a low price. I think they offer 36 hour packs (which may never last 36 hours BTW, more like 1/2 that unless enclosed with little air exchange.) The Bean Farm sells them among many others out there (LLL, Big Apple, etc).

Heat packs have saved my few tropical snakes over the years during power outages. A few heat packs in a low sweater box filled with crumpled newspaper and the snake can get you through depending on the size of the snake and type (obviously, a bullsnake can handle temps into the 50s, but a boa or python may have more trouble with that low of temp. You'll need a number of heat packs for an adult BP for example).

I need to investigate the use of other devices, like oil-filled heaters. Hopefully someone will chime in.

a few years ago we lost our power during an ice storm, we had no power for almost a week. I had to take all my critters to a friends house who had a woodstove, I now have a kerosine heater for emergencys, haven't had to use it yet.
Wayne

In the past I kept a supply of heat and cold packs and styrofoam coolers for such emergencies. We now live in a house with a small add on (herp) room that has an electric wall heater and air conditioner wired separate from the rest of the house. We invested in a gasoline generator. So, either extreme heat or cold, when the power goes out, we move into the herp room.

We also keep a general store of supplies for herps as well as humans. Big jugs of bottled water, freeze dried worms and crix for the lizards, heat/cold packs, disposable plastic containers for water dishes, etc.. Lots of hand sanitizer, paper towels--except for the water I put it all in a large storage box and stowed it in my laundry room.

regards,
althea

Too specifically prepare for power outages in cold weather the suggestions of heat packs are good. Another suggestion is to purchase a small catalytic propane heater. These heaters do not have any open flame but do need to be run in an area with good ventilation. Also, most camp/camper type heaters like this are only good for heating small areas so what I've always planned on in case of a power outage is to pack all my animals into individual boxes and place them in a small room such as a bathroom and run the heater in there with the window cracked. The goal is to get the temperature within a safe zone - which for most snakes/lizards/amphibians, is probably above 65 F, or so. If you can heat to that temp or higher you should be okay until you get your power back. The other more expensive option is to purchase a gasoline electric generator and run a small electric space heater off of that. The most efficient heaters for small areas are going to be ceramic heaters, while the oil-filled units are better for a larger area like a herp room.
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Matt Campbell
Animal Keeper, Small Mammal/Reptile House
Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, Illinois

Assistant Curator
Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, Illinois