Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey Chris or anyone,

I just built a 6x10 snakeroom in my garage. I'd like to keep breeing rats & mice in the room but have my temps where they need to be. I need some help...

To raise rats/mice, the room temp should really not exceed 75 to 78 (72 ideal- how do I know? Experience!- LOL). I live in FL, which means I'd have to cool it part year and heat it part year.

I'd like to keep interior cage temps to about 80 with belly heat at 92.

I'll be keeping ball pythons, hog island boas, salmon boas, and blood pythons.

Any advice on temp. control, ventillation, etc. would be great!

Thanks,

Steve Harrison

Steve,

72* ambient room temps might require more than belly heat.

If it were me I'd keep the rodents at the cooler temperature and heat the cages with radiant heat panels. I'd also use reflective insulation on each cage.

But if it were me I'd do everything in my power to keep the rodents somewhere else. JMHO.

I think keeping rodents in the same room as large boids AND wanting to only use belly heat is asking too much.

But if you want to try it with your existing cages then you need to insulate them with Reflectix and increase the thermal mass in each cage.

The Reflectix will be most helpful on the horizontal surfaces of the cage. On the top and underneath, in other words. You'll want a bit of an air space underneath.

What type of cages are you using?

>>Hey Chris or anyone,
>>
>>I just built a 6x10 snakeroom in my garage. I'd like to keep breeing rats & mice in the room but have my temps where they need to be. I need some help...
>>
>>To raise rats/mice, the room temp should really not exceed 75 to 78 (72 ideal- how do I know? Experience!- LOL). I live in FL, which means I'd have to cool it part year and heat it part year.
>>
>>I'd like to keep interior cage temps to about 80 with belly heat at 92.
>>
>>I'll be keeping ball pythons, hog island boas, salmon boas, and blood pythons.
>>
>>Any advice on temp. control, ventillation, etc. would be great!
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Steve Harrison
-----
Current snakes:

0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

7.6 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

0.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

Hey,

I'm using homemade cages, I'll take some pics. Mostly 2x4's and plexi.

What is reflectix and where can I get it?

What are radiant heat panels?
Where can I get those and how much?

I may be asking my room to do too much, sure...but I don't have much space!

Thanks so much for the quick reply!

Steve

BTW... Do you know how to get the photo uploader to work? It sometimes takes 'em and sometimes doesn't (resize after resize after resize)???

I'm using homemade cages, I'll take some pics. Mostly 2x4's and plexi.

That makes your situation more difficult as I don't believe those cages will be the most efficient.

What is reflectix and where can I get it?

Reflectix is one of many types of insulation that looks like bubble-wrap covered with aluminum foil. It is a potent blocker of radiant heat.

Here is a picture of my last garage snake room that I temporarily insulated with Reflectix.

I bought a roll at Menards but I have seen it for sale by the foot at Ace Hardware.

What are radiant heat panels?

Expensive yet efficient panels that can me mounted inside of cages and produce a heat that really does well with snakes, especially the heavier bodied species you keep.

Where can I get those and how much?

You can get them at: http://www.pro-products.com/

They are expensive, but given your needs I believe you need to spend money somewhere.

BTW... Do you know how to get the photo uploader to work?

I have never had any trouble with it so I've never had to play with it to get things to work. Sorry.
-----
Current snakes:

0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

7.6 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

0.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)