Question about heating pads and winter time

[adamanteus]

I only use heat pads or lamps when I have a problem feeder. The extra heat seems to help in those situations.

I also have found that an increase in temperature (and humidity) can help to 'kick-start' problem feeders.

[reptile3]

I also have found that an increase in temperature (and humidity) can help to 'kick-start' problem feeders.

very interesting...

[drache]

as Stefan said - in the wild they are able to thermoregulate (pick how warm/cold they like it by choosing location)
my first thought upon reading your post was that the snake may want another hiding place that's not as warm
some of my snakes out on the sun porch for brumation are active and about at 50º (the parietalis and the pallidulus specifically), so I wouldn't worry about them freezing in any conditions where a human is still comfortable hanging out without puffy outerwear
my house is kept in the low to mid seventies and most tanks get a basking bulb with a branch underneath, so the snakes can pick how close to the heat they want to be

[dashnu]

I use only heating pads and fluorescent bulbs (lights are not really designed to heat). Toss a hide over the warm spot and a hide over the cool side and watch and learn. You will see a pattern or at least I have with all mine. No night lights for me A good heating pad is all you need, my fluorescent bulbs bring up the ambient air temp during the day a bit.

Long of the short, and in my experience garters can do just fine in a wide range of temps.

[infernalis]

My perception on thermo-regulation is as follows.

Even we thermo-regulate in a way, even though mammals are warm blooded.

When we feel hot we seek shade, when we feel cold we seek warmth.

Same concept applies to the snakes, regulation of body temperature.

It is far more crucial to a cold blooded creature than a warm blooded one.

Now if we find a comfortable temperature, do we not stay put?

At night, the temperatures outside dip by a wide margin, so the snakes cool down. In the morning when the sun comes out, the snakes will bask in the AM sun to bring their own body temperatures up to reach the comfort zone they desire.

When the sun gets too hot, they will seek shade to cool back down.

Why not just keep it comfortable all the time?

My own personal collection of Thamnophis has been thriving and doing well without the use of gradients, as have several other members who are more experienced than I am.

If there is any data that proves conclusively that no gradients is detrimental to the animals health, please be so kind as to point the way so I can view it, and perhaps change my way of thinking.

[anji1971]

Mine have a small heat mat in one end of the tank, but I find they rarely use it. They seem to be most happy in the rest of the tank at normal room temp, which is 70F. I'm not so convinced that they care much about gradient either. However, that's probably more important for the species that live in naturally warmer areas. My Canadian snakes can handle pretty low temperatures. I find the wild ones out and about in 50F here, and they seem perfectly content.

[IndigoBug1987]

oK i was just looking at slithers and sometimes she lays in her water bowl. she's doing it now the thermometer says 75 and her 'humidity' thermometer says 60. is it too hot in there?

[jitami]

Nope, they just do that

[IndigoBug1987]

ok thanks!

[brain]

Very true Stefan.

Thermo-regulation implies that when they are too warm, they seek a cooler place to be, and when too cold they seek a warmer place to be.

To cover my arse, I included the line.... "There is a mixture of opinions on the forum"

Most heat sources I have tried were rather ignored by the garters.

Our whole house is an average of 80F.

So then my room heating thoughts are not just of my own.

You also don’t pay particular attention to the heating of a habitat unless the snake comes from an arid region.

i.e.: my flame boas have a heat pad under the tank, water only as the dish dries out and natural light.

Then IYO would the same hold true for the habitats of garters? In regards to heating is there any science backing “this must have heat lamp” propaganda.

Some of my snakes do have heat pads but for the most part I adjust the entire room temp in the summer as well as the winter. I do keep checks on the individual temps of the snake via ReyTec and adjust accordingly.

Now the rats and mice don’t really appreciate the temp adjust …lol. I see them really slow down reproduction as we get into winter and maintain a room temp of 79 deg. The little buggers want to hibernate, but not on my watch.