Reptile <snake> Questions....

[ChrisNCT]

I have a reptile question...in general about snakes.

I have always thought that snakes like pythons needed sunlight or UVA/UVB bulbs for digestion, skin condition and whatnot.


Why is it that I see allot of people putting them and keeping them in the plastic tupperware things without lights. Can snake develop fine without the UV? :?

The reason I ask is because I overly stress myself to make sure the lights and night lights are on timers and work properly. :wall:

I understand that the temps are raised in basking spots...but in a plastic tupperware container, how is this possible?

I would like to keep them in the clear things but I am worried that without the light there would be problems..

can anyone help out this newbie?

 

[defour]

No snakes that I'm aware of need UV. A lot of lizards don't either, including some that bask, like monitors. This isn't an uncontroversial viewpoint, but it's backed up by some successfull monitor breeders, including THE most successful one in the US.

Snakes do best with a thermal gradient, simply because the keeper can't know what the thing needs at any given moment in terms of heat, and the snake needs to be able to choose for itself. Basking spots, per se, aren't necessary for most snakes. Generally, a wide thermal gradient with the warm end somewhere in the mid-80's is fine. It varies somewhat depending on what you're keeping, but a little research will give you any species specific details. A few snakes bask a bit in the wild, and these might need a warmer basking spot. Masticophis (coachwhips) are an example. Mine has temp choices up to 105 degrees or so, and uses it, mostly after meals. He can still find temps in the mid-70's if he wants them, though. A thermal gradient in a plastic box is acheived through the use of heat tape or cable, with the heat applied toward one end of the box. You should be able to get at least 10 degrees of variation pretty easily doing it this way. Having said all that, there are plenty of people keeping and breeding snakes with minimal gradients, say a constant 80 degrees. This works sometimes, but I'm not comfortable without a decent amount of variation.

Steve

 

[Schlyne]

Snakes do not need expensive UVA/UVB lights.

They need BELLY HEAT for digestion.

You really need to make sure your temps and the humidity is right.

As for heating plastic containers, either the heat mat is stuck/placed under the container (and should be controlled with a true thermostat!) or it's using flexwatt (which must be controlled with a thermostat!).

 

[WhyTeDraGon]

snakes bask to absorb heat, which helps in digestion. Im not aware of UVB being beneficial, though I could be wrong.
So a simple heat pad should do the trick.

 

[ChrisNCT]

So basicly....

I can get one of those 6 drawer plastic carts or a shelf with tubs and start a decent reptile collection. F.Y.I The room that they will be in drop no more than 79 degrees F. The hunidity is about 70-80% all the time.

I can add some heat mats to appropriate area using therostats and what not. I will have to ship for some. It's allot easier to do that than to provide lots of light fixures which limits my shelving capabilities.

Thanks for your answers guys...

What I will be getting are:
Milks, Kings and such.

 

[Joe]

No snakes that I'm aware of need UV. A lot of lizards don't either, including some that bask, like monitors. This isn't an uncontroversial viewpoint, but it's backed up by some successfull monitor breeders, including THE most successful one in the US.

I've heard that green and garter snakes benefit from UV, but I don't keep either species, so I don't know. As far as monitors not needing UV, you can get away without it as long as you provide proper supplementation (proper calcium-to-phosphorous ratios, not too much D3, not too little, etc). This is also what I've heard. Personally, I use UV for any basking lizard. It's just easier, and not that expensive. If you can't afford a UV light fixture, you can't afford to properly house and feed a monitor.

 

[defour]

If you can't afford a UV light fixture, you can't afford to properly house and feed a monitor.

True enough. You might even say that if you can't afford a used car, you shouldn't be keeping them, at least in the case of the big ones.

They need BELLY HEAT for digestion.

They need heat. Where it comes from is irrelevant. Whatever works best with the logistics of a particular setup is the best solution, whether it's heat cable, flexwatt, CHEs, radiant heat panels or light bulbs.

Steve

 

[chris73]

I am a firm believer in the positive emotional benefits of sunlight or its laboratory equivelant for all serpents. My breeders seem to produce better on a day/night cycle incorporating UVA lighting in the enclosures and all my herps with UVA seem, oh, I don't know, "happier". There is no proof of it's benefit in actual studies, but I believe it to be 100% true. As far as UVB and physical benefit, it is unnecessary as snakes synthize D3 from their food intake unlike Green Iguanas or similiar animals requiring UVB to survive.

 

[Schlyne]

They need heat. Where it comes from is irrelevant. Whatever works best with the logistics of a particular setup is the best solution, whether it's heat cable, flexwatt, CHEs, radiant heat panels or light bulbs.

Steve

It is generally considered that belly heat is better. However, any of the items you listed above are fine.

 

[Bry]

First of all, snakes do not NEED UV lighting. Someone mentioned that garters and green snakes may require UV. I don't know about that, but I will tell you right now a large majority of snakes common in captivity do not require UV. That's not to say they can't have it, I don't think providing them with UV lighting will hurt. It just isn't necessary, even for diurnal species. Snakes get all their needed nutrients such as Vit. D3 and calcium from all the parts of the prey they eat: brain, muscle tissue, organs, bones, etc. Hair is said to only be good for roughage, and it cannot be digested. So they just pass it in their feces, which is why it comes out looking a bit furry.

I do not think UV will hurt, because wild snakes still get some exposure to the sun, even nocturnal species. After all, that is how they get heat to aid in prey digestion. They're not going to shrivel up and blow away under some light exposure. In fact I once did an experiment and placed some UV lighting on a ball python, a nocturnal species, to see if it would make a difference. What I discovered was that the snake's coloration did not change much, the snake remained more active through a longer period of the day, and even though it already was eating very well, it seemed a bit more aggressive at feeding time. After removing the light, the snake continued to eat well and be healthy in all other aspects. So I concluded that while UV wouldn't hurt, it was not significantly beneficial.

I have 27 snakes in my snake room, and I have been keeping them for 6 years. The only lighting they recieve is ambient lighting from the window. Each one of them has recieves belly heat by means of heat tape or heating pads plugged into a thermostat. The ones that are in plastic tubs have heating pads underneath. Every one of them feeds just fine, and they have never had any health problems related to a lack of lighting or UV. I used to use overhead light bulbs for heat, and never had any problems then. Although I did notice that the light did dry out the tank somewhat quickly.

Okay, now I'm done rambling.