Snakes that can live off roaches and don't need heat lamps?

[pitbulllady]

My house stays at 50-60degrees all year long for the most part. So do most of my friends and most of the people I meet. But I guess you're right. If it stays at 70degrees or so. Then yeah it would be pointless. I guess I'm talking from personal experience. Only way to keep em warm in my house are heat mats or lamps(dependent of the animal)

Where do you live, Antarctica? Even if this were ambient temperature, with the temp inside basically being the same as the temp outside, I don't know of many places that are that cool year-round. If you run an AC to keep it that cold, I'd hate to see your bill in the summer! I have a four-tonne heat pump and a well-constructed, well-insulated house, and even with that, the daytime temps get up to 85 degrees indoors when the outside temps hit those triple digits, so I cannot imagine what kind of unit it would require to keep a house at 50 degrees in summer anywhere that the outside temp got up to high 80's at least. I've known and met a lot of people, and I do not know of anyone who can afford to keep their home at 50-60 degrees during the summer, no matter what part of the US they live in. Maybe they are just guessing and don't really know what the thermostat is set on, so they just say, "oh, around 50-60 degrees...I think", when asked. 50 degrees is considered ideal temp for hypothermia to set in a HUMAN, according to EMS workers who have to deal with that sort of thing, often with hunters who do not realize that prolonged exposure to that temp without adequate layering of clothing can be dangerous. I have read that 55 is the average indoor temp inside the work stations at Antarctica, since it's impossible to get it any warmer due to the outdoor temps, but even inside, people have to wear layers of clothing all the time.

pitbulllady

 

[Travis K]

Good grief.....


Now I want to get a Rough Green.

 

[RyanW]

Every so often you will see Shovelnose snakes (Chionactis occipitalis) available. They are by far one of the coolest bug eating snakes that I have ever kept. They do need a heat pad but other than that they are amazing. Google them!

 

[pitbulllady]

Every so often you will see Shovelnose snakes (Chionactis occipitalis) available. They are by far one of the coolest bug eating snakes that I have ever kept. They do need a heat pad but other than that they are amazing. Google them!

I agree about the "cool" part, but I'm not sure if they'd eat roaches or not. The few I've seen in captivity all ate centipedes and/or spiders rather than insects. These little mini "sandworms" won't flinch at taking on a big Scolopendra! The problem with them, aside from their diet, is that they are rather like Sand Boas, and they stay buried in sand most of the time so you won't see them.

pitbulllady

 

[RyanW]

I live where they are native and keep them. I assure you that they have no problem eating crickets and waxworms. They will pluck worms right out of your fingers but I have never tried roaches. They are suprisingly active and spend a lot of time out of the sand. If you put a group in a large enough enclosure they will keep you entertained. They do get dehydrated very quickly so all you have to do is mist them down two to three times a week and provide them with a humid hide. They are nothing like sand boas in any way. They are too small to bite and they are very active. Boas are lazy ambush predetors, these guys have to chase down every meal.

 

[the toe cutter]

I have been breeding and raising snakes for just over 20yrs and for temperate and even some tropical(Orthriophis taeniurus ridleyi) reptiles as PBL said a heat source is not always needed but can stimulate different activity and sometimes will get you a more active snake. I never used to use heating for the mass of corns and NA colubrids I used to have, but when I switched to small heating elements like heat pads, heat tape and even heat cord I noticed alot more, and even different behavior/activity in my snakes that was not there before using a heating source. They were much more active and alert than they were the previous years in captivity. Also the amount of light they recieve in a day will also stimulate different activity. And as far as saying that a heat lamp could possibly kill a Opheodrys sp by dessication may be a little much. I have caught, raised and even hatched a few Rough Green snakes and they actually rather enjoy basking for a bit in either natural(cage by a window) or artificial(heat lamp) means. As long as you do not over do it, and give them plenty of hides they will thermoregulate themselves as needed and a heating/light source that is not overpowering will cause a more natural cycle and thus a more natural activity in any animal. As a hobbyist, not a breeder, you have the opportunity to make as natural a micro habitat as possible to better watch and understand the natural behaviors of your pets. You do not HAVE to, this is just my philosophy on keeping animals in general and based on the differences I have seen in my own personal collections. Also the Opheodrys aestivus is the only species out of the 2 in the genus that is Arboreal, the Smooth Green Snake(Opheodrys vernalis) is mainly fossorial and becoming increasingly difficult to find in the wild both in Canada and the Northern US States.

 

[LeilaNami]

I forgot about Carphophis spp. (wormsnakes). They feed on worms but are often willing to take soft-bodied insects so the nymphs might do it for ya. I don't think they need a heat lamp either. There, something other than green snakes haha!

 

[dtknow]

If the snake has a place to get away from the heat lamp and is misted frequently/provided lots of greenery I also don't see a heatlamp frying an Opheodrys. That being said-a heat lamp+glass tank or similar indoors would indeed be a poor way to keep one of these things(based on experience with heat lamps, not rough greens).

Toecutter: That is interesting-but makes complete sense. Did you notice and decrease in health issues when you provided heat? Cold temperatures risk digestion issues and respiratory problems if they are indeed too cold. Even in the wild snakes may not be able to heat up the way they can every day in captivity. Also, as PBL mentioned, many snakes preferred body temperature is surprisingly low.

Get Bitten: I second Chionactis. How long have you kept yours? These things are loads of fun to watch swim around. If they can be compared to sand boas-they are sand boas on crack.

 

[kevin91172]

I keep 44 snakes now and my life time kept hundreds over 30 years,venomous 20 something I think.Only snakes I keep on heat pads are pythons and boas.

And FYI threads like this I scan threw quickly to see PITBULLadies comments,I took allot of her advice that she does not know I did that worked for me.

I sometimes do not use her exact advise,but gives me ideas for other different angles to try with a difficult snake problem I might be having at that time.

Anyways OP get a corn,milk,or king I have many and are very cool snakes and are easy to take care of.

Or like I tell my kids who always want a new snake and I end up "owning " it.

Get a pet rock!

And Yes toecutter is always helpful also!

 

[skar]

WHAT is all this talk of no heat source for snakes ?
I always thought you provide a hot and cool side ?! really ? hmmm my house is like 77 all the time . so just put a snake in a box is good.?

 

[kevin91172]

Yes native snakes at 77 will work great