basking risks

[aquamentus_11]

Will a garter injure itself by basking in an area that's too warm for too long? Mine is sitting in her normal basking spot which is currently 91F. This is strange because she usually likes cooler temps, we're talking 15-20 degrees cooler and that spot is usually in the low-mid 80's. I'm not worried about this obviously, I figure she'll just self-regulate, just curious.

[guidofatherof5]

You would think they would just self-regulate.
I don't use basking lamps so I'm very limited in my experience with them.

[aquamentus_11]

well, it's very cold in my house today so she probably needs some extra juice. i'm still noob so i have many questions. among them are ones that are stupid.

[guidofatherof5]

well, it's very cold in my house today so she probably needs some extra juice. i'm still noob so i have many questions. among them are ones that are stupid.

Your questions are always welcome.

[EasternGirl]

Well...I have a chart here...I don't know how accurate it is...it is written by the Zilla company, and came with one of my thermostats. According to this chart, for garters, the basking temp range should be 85-90 degrees, the day temp gradient should be 88 on the warm side and 72 on the cool side, and the night temp gradient should be 70 on the warm side and 65 on the cool side. I don't know exactly what my basking temps are....I know the thermometer on the wall next to my basking area usually reads around 82 or 84 during the day...and that I have a thermostat probe in the substrate near the heat mat. The thermostat shuts off if temps hit 90. What are you using to determine the basking spot temp? I would think that she would move if she got to hot though. Hermes sits in a plant right up under his lamp all the time. I have heard of snakes getting burned...but I think that is usually in situations when they cannot get away from the heat.

Your questions are not stupid.

[GarterGuy17]

Well my temps get up to 90 often she seems so love it since shes always under the lamp then its dark out , even though I turn it off around 8 pm. my temps are always changing at night they go to about 63 on the cool side and 70 on the warm. I would say if she isn't irritated by the temp its okay.

[aquamentus_11]

Ok, good. I have a thermometer/hygrometer with a probe that I keep in the tank: the probe's at the basking spot and the main unit is in the coldest spot in the cage.

It's going to be interesting when my new cage comes in. Like I said, I had planned on getting a little ATB so I ordered a fancy cage and radiant heat panel. Now that I've opted for a superior snake, I still have this cage on the way. She'll love all the extra room, but I'm not sure how I'm going to accurately measure the emissions from the panel. The thing was calibrated for a tropical, arboreal boid so the basking spot will run at 90-95F if I let it run full out. The radiation given off by one of these is always higher than the ambient temp. I'm just not exactly sure how much higher. I've heard 10 degrees is a safe estimate, but I'm not an estimator. I have a thermostat, but it won't do much good without a gauge. I want to use it, but don't want to nuke anyone.

[WingedWolfPsion]

They can and will burn themselves if a heat lamp or pad is too hot, but 91 isn't too hot. :)

[kibakiba]

I personally wouldn't keep a garter at 90, unless it was sick or had a health problem. I try to keep my tanks warm side at 75, and cool at 65-70 when it's possible.

[angrygamer]

To add, those heat rocks that you can buy have a bad reputation. I've only heard of this second hand, but I remember someone saying something to the effect that they had heard reptiles cooking themselves on them.

[EasternGirl]

I don't know...I used to keep my temps cooler and then when Cee Cee got sick, I started making them higher. I also started reading about temps and asking people what range they keep there temps at on warm and cool sides. It does depend on the species and the particular snake...but I think my snakes are happier and more active since I have been keeping the temps warmer in the enclosures. Mind you, they always have a gradient, so that they can go to the cool side...and I always have the thermostats set to kick the heat off if it goes above 90. But I find that they all seem to like it around 82 on the warm side during the day...the basking temp may be a bit warmer...but not over 90. Seeley even likes it warm at night...he likes to bask under the night lamp. Hermes also likes to come out and bask at night. Cee Cee goes to the cool side at night. Cee Cee and Seeley are very smart...if they get too warm, they go away from the warm side and into the middle of the tank or to the cool side. Hermes...I worry about a bit more, because he is so young. I don't use his heat pad much. I am afraid he might burrow down next to it...so I just use his lamp most of the time. The last couple of nights that it has been really cold, I added an extra lamp with a very low 25 watt black light bulb next to his red bulb...but he also has a thermostat set to kick off at 90.

[EasternGirl]

I would be a bit concerned about that tank with the tropical heat settings. It may be too much for a garter...especially Hydra, since she tends to like it cool. Unless there is some way you can manipulate it so that you can change the settings on it...

[guidofatherof5]

I personally wouldn't keep a garter at 90, unless it was sick or had a health problem. I try to keep my tanks warm side at 75, and cool at 65-70 when it's possible.

Seems like your high temp isn't high enough for proper thermo-regulating.
Your cool temp is fine but I think you should up the warm side.
The higher temp will aid in digestion and also keep the immune system more active.
Just my opinion.

[EasternGirl]

I have to agree with Steve on that.

[aquamentus_11]

yeah, i can manipulate the heat panel easily. the problem is i don't know how to correctly calibrate things because radiant heat does not equal ambient temp.

[guidofatherof5]

Sorry, can't help you with that.;)

[EasternGirl]

Go on ssnakess.com They have lots of different forums for all different kinds of snakes...and you can just post general questions too in the general discussions forum. I'm sure members on there have experience with that type of enclosure and someone should be able to tell you what you need to know. You need to register, but it only takes a minute...the forum is run by the same guy that runs this forum, Jason (Boots). Wayne (Infernalis) may be able to help too. You could shoot him a PM.

sSnakeSs.com (http://www.ssnakess.com/)

[aquamentus_11]

ok, thanks.

[aquamentus_11]

got it solved thanks to infernalis. the answer was right here the whole time. ordered a temp gun and will just measure the young lady with it. i can also use ambient temp after things equilibrate in the cage, it's just in the beginning that the snake can be actually more radiated than the air lets on. thanks guys.

[guidofatherof5]

Nice job Wayne.

[EasternGirl]

I figured Wayne would know...he deals with a lot of snakes and works with many types of enclosures...plus he likes to build things :). Nice going, Wayne.

[PINJOHN]

well, it's very cold in my house today so she probably needs some extra juice. i'm still noob so i have many questions. among them are ones that are stupid.
There are no stupid questions... just occasionally dumb Answers but you wont find them on this site ;)

[kibakiba]

You may find them on thissite... It depends on who is answering your question. Like me, I;m not very smart sometimes!

[EasternGirl]

Don't talk about my friend like that Chantel! ;)

[kibakiba]

Hey, between my apparently very severe case of dyslexia and my neuroticness, some weird things come out of my mouth (or fingers in this case) sometimes!