Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How low can the temp go in my Corn's habitat at night without her either getting sick or going into hibernation?

It's cooling off here, and my daughter's room was like 66 deg right now, so I turned the heat up to get it to 72. The snake's cage was about the same, even though I just turned the basking light out about an hour ago.

I can't keep the top floor of our house at mid 70's all winter. I had a low wattage heat pad on the side, but it wasn't doing much at night. When I put it on the bottom and felt with my hand, even that low wattage gave off such heat in spots, I was afraid the snake would get burned (since she burrows under the paper towel substrate and would be RIGHT on the pad - with a thin layer of acrylic between).

Any suggestions for the Winter? I could just hibernate her in the basement for a few months, but it's just a baby and my daughter just got her (wants to handle her every day). Also, is there a risk of losing a snake during hibernation? Isn't it stressful, and can't they die?

Thanks!

Walt

I wouldnt brumate a baby. Maybe get yourself a 25w black or red light, or whatever wattage you need to get the temps you need....Snakes dont recognize it as daylight so it can be on 24hrs.

Jason

So I'd need another lamp so I didn't have to change bulbs twice a day.

Also, I don't want to have light in my daughter's room at night, so is there a bulb that gives off just heat and NO (or almost no) light?

Walt

P.S. To answer the original question, what's the low end on night temps without stressing the snake?

I dont really know what the lowest temp you could go without having any digestive issues or anything else would be. I'd probobly try and keep it around 65-70. You can get ceramic heat emitters that dont give off any light...just heat. also the black lights give off very little light. Whats the room temp? and are you using heat during the day?

Yes. 80-85 deg during the day, and about 76 deg on the cool side. Cool and hot side hides (now using the wood bark hide on the warm side - yippee!). But it cools off really quickly at night. I'm gonna keep an eye on it. I may need a second lamp for night...

Walt

Do you know how cool its getting at night? If its staying 65 or better at night i probobly wouldnt worry about it.

OK, thanks!