Hardly an Elaphe "expert" but here goes

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Posted by Chris H. on August 03, 2001 at 00:20:08:

In Reply to: One for the experts... posted by Steve on August 02, 2001 at 14:57:52:

1. What is the best sytems you have found for heating multiple snakes in a rack system - the celar gets pretty cold in winter and I wanted to know if it is easier to heat the whole space or the individualboxes/shelves.

You should heat the room up to around 70�F and then have heat tape under one end of each cage (along the back shelf of the rack) to provide the snake a warm area for basking as well. That way the snake will have the proper gradient.

Of course, if you are keeping some of the Asian Rats, which require cooler temps, you could forgo the tape for them.

In the winter, you may want to drop the temp to brumation temperatures for a few months and turn off the heat tape.

2. Being a basement there is no natural light - do I need to provide light for the snakes

The importance of photoperiod is snake husbandry is often overlooked IMHO. I would certainly have a light on a timer in the room at least so that the snakes can experience a normal photoperiod. During brumation you could shorten this or even turn the lights off.
Even though some of these snakes are nocturnal, I am sure they need some ambient light to set their pineal organs and maintain normal chronobiological rhythms.

3. Any other hints info about setting up a dedicated space for snakes?

Make sure you have it set up so that it is
1. easy to clean
2. easy to find any animal that accidentally escapes (it eventually happens to all of us).

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Re: Hardly an Elaphe "expert" but here goes Walt Deptula 08/03/01 (0)

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Comments:
: 1. What is the best sytems you have found for heating multiple snakes in a rack system - the celar gets pretty cold in winter and I wanted to know if it is easier to heat the whole space or the individualboxes/shelves. : You should heat the room up to around 70�F and then have heat tape under one end of each cage (along the back shelf of the rack) to provide the snake a warm area for basking as well. That way the snake will have the proper gradient. : Of course, if you are keeping some of the Asian Rats, which require cooler temps, you could forgo the tape for them. : In the winter, you may want to drop the temp to brumation temperatures for a few months and turn off the heat tape. : 2. Being a basement there is no natural light - do I need to provide light for the snakes : The importance of photoperiod is snake husbandry is often overlooked IMHO. I would certainly have a light on a timer in the room at least so that the snakes can experience a normal photoperiod. During brumation you could shorten this or even turn the lights off. : Even though some of these snakes are nocturnal, I am sure they need some ambient light to set their pineal organs and maintain normal chronobiological rhythms. : 3. Any other hints info about setting up a dedicated space for snakes? : Make sure you have it set up so that it is : 1. easy to clean : 2. easy to find any animal that accidentally escapes (it eventually happens to all of us).

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