Is Thermoregulation needed?

[magick-bears]

As I have been reading past posts I found a breeder claiming that he has never used any kind of basking areas (i.e. heat tape, UTH, Lights). That he has only uniformaly heated his snake room. Unfortunatly I can not find that thread (if I do I will post a link).

Well this statement intriqued me. I have breed corn snakes in the past and have had them in racks using heat tape. I am curantly getting back into breeding corns. I am, however, on a fixed budget so I am starting very slow. I plan to house them in sweater and shoebox systems. Yet I don't want to put out the expense for a large rack when I curantly only have a couple of snakes. Buying UTH devices for sweater boxes is not only expensive is IMHO unsafe. So I emailed the breeder to ask what temperture he mantains his snake room at and any other advice he might have. Unfortunatly, I have not heard back from him. So I decided to post the question here.

Can corn snakes be successfully kept in a snake room that has a stable temputure (day-time 78 to 82 night 73 to 75 can be increased if needed) without the use of any othe heat source.

Thank you,
Jeff Carter

 

[WAS1]

Although I think it is possible I would not recommend it.
A snake likes to find its own temp. They may sit above a heat mat for hours becoming very warm to the touch. They may prefer it away from a heat source to cool down. I have one that even in winter will sit curled up in its water bowl for hours even the the water is cold.
What you are suggesting will take away the snakes choice.
If it wants to be warmer or cooler for whatever reason, where does it go?

 

[daveyboy]

I remember reading the post too. If your paying attention to your snakes you will begin to realize which like it cooler and which like it warm and you can change there temp by moving them up and down in the rack. Closer to the ceiling warm on the floor cooler, it can and is done by more than one person. I believe Rich Z. doesn't even use an incubator just keeps the room the right temp. Some people do things the way it has always been done and then there are those who march to a different beat. If the new way works well then don't fear trying it. If you get into and it is not wrking you can always add flex-watt but if it works look at the money you saved. In the wild when it get 95 or 100 and a snake is under a log where it is 90 it doesn't move to the other side of the log like wise when it is cold snakes can't move to the warm side of the log. They are created to survive ranges of temps and if your ranges from 72-82 I know my corn would love it. Some people will say it will affect digestion but 82 is plenty warm for my snake to digest a meal. Remeber it is only my opnion, agree or disagree as you like.
Peace Paul