Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all,
I have to leave town for a couple of days (specifically 6) and seeing as i *am* in upstate NY i'm concerned about leaving my pet ball behind and not being here to be able to monitor the temperature. Thus, my question, I am in a dorm and as such I have 2 options:
1. heat on and blasting
2. no heat at all

Weather.com says the temps while i'm gone are gonna prbly be about as they are now (mid 30s at night), and as it is now my room is a good temp w/ the heat off, as alot seeps through anyway. I'm afraid if i leave and the temp drops too much he'll suffer, but am also worried that if i turn the heat on and leave he'll cook (it'll get into the 90s if i turn it on and leave it at the temp it is now in my room).

So I ask: which do you all think is better? High heat but definte heat, or a good temp w/ the risk of the temp dropping alot because of where I live. He has a heat pad, and I suppose perhaps if it gets too cold he'll just move over to it and burrow down to it if it gets especially cold? Or is a high temp ok anyway because they're used to really high temps like that?

Thanks much for all your help,
-Eli

for heat are you talking about a bulb type heat or what? cause you could just get a lower watt bulb. Or you really need to get thermostat then you don't ever have to worry, it will regulate it. too hot and too cold don't seem to be the best option to me.
-----
Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

Yeah it's just a heater in my dorm room, either on or off. For winter break a friend here was nice enough to offer to take him, but for turkey break it's too short. I think i'm gonna prbly follow the weather forecast and trust the current temps and leave it be.

-Eli

I used to find an off-campus friend who would let the animals stay at their house. We were required by the college to leave our heat on during break, and anyone who left their plants or pets in the dormitory came back to dried out plants and dead pets due to the heat. I heard stories of a fish tank that got so bad that the entire floor stank when they got back. 98 degrees for 10 days is not healthy...

Find a place to keep the snake where you don't have to worry. 6 days of too cold and you risk a respiratory infection at best. 6 days of non-stop heat and I can pretty much guarantee your snake will cook. Well, if your dorms are like mine anyway.

I've gone away in the past. I just leave his nighttime bulb on (its a 25 watt) and bump up the heat pad one notch. He's always been fine.
-----
0.0.1 Snow Corn
0.0.1 Oketee
1.0 Ghosts
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.0 Albino Burmese Python

OK - here you go:

Best case scenario - you leave him for 6 days and come back and he's a little hot/cold but otherwise healthy and happy.

Worse case scenario too hot - you come back to find that your heat pad running full blast has (if you have him in an aquarium) cracked the glass and has now burned and cut up your snake (probably infected now because it's gone untreated for several days). Or if you keep him in a tub you come home to find that the heat pad has melted the tub - you find your snake stuck to the melted tub and overcome by the toxic fumes from the melted plastic. Got it in an acrylic tank - you're a little better off except acrylic has a tendancy to heat up really quick (less chance of melting or cracking but you can still severly burn your snake).

Worse case scenario too cold - the two most obvious things: #1 very stressful on the snake which can lead to further illness - the snake will try to find some way out of that cage so he can go someplace warmer - may to, lead escape, nose rub or other injury. #2 RI infection and three or more months worth of vet bills and antibiotics. Or a low grade cold which will go relatively unnoticed - but will stress him and effect his mood and eating pattern - may lead to RI and other problems.

Have someone watch him for you or at the very least find some cheap thermostat or timer to run the heating off of. Best of luck.
-----
Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

.... sounds like menopause, lol Ron
-----
The Crawl Space

You could try to ask a local pet store (family owned not corp.) to board it for you, they only usually charge a minimal amount for a smaller snake.
-----
Find a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life -Confucious
3.20 ball pythons
1.1 dumeril boas
0.0.1 pixie frog
1.1 dogs
0.2 cats
more fish than I can list.