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Summer Temperatures

poetris

poetris

New member
I got my first corn snake last fall, so have never had one in the summer (I've never had another snake, either). I was wondering if I need to be concerned about the hottest days of summer? I live in the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada, and while most of our summer is probably around 80-85 degrees, we do have days as hot as 100 degrees. The humidex can also easily push a 80 deg day up to 90 or 100. Is this going to be a problem for my snake? The room usually stays cooler, because I keep the shades drawn, but it can get very hot up there on the right days. He can get under his waterbowl, which is cooler, but I still wanted to ask if this is going to be safe for my snake, and if there is anything I should do to make sure he stays comfortable and healthy :)
 
Air conditioning! Occasional periods of temps in the 90's probably won't hurt your snakes, but if it stays 90+ for days on end that wouldn't be good. Make sure to give your snakes some damp hides to get into.
 
a/c is probably out of the question in the room he is in. There is a window, but it's not suitable for an a/c. Would a fan be of any help? I know they make me feel cooler, but I don;t know that they actually change the temperature...

also, should I unplug the uth for the duration of the summer?
 
poetris said:
Would a fan be of any help? I know they make me feel cooler, but I don;t know that they actually change the temperature...

also, should I unplug the uth for the duration of the summer?
Click to expand...

Fans make you cooler because they take moist air away from the skin allowing your sweat to evaporate more rapidly. Although the temperature of the room will not change, the temperature of your skin does as it loses heat energy to the water which is swept away.

Snakes do not sweat so do not have this luxury. The moist hide is the best way to keep him cool.
 
Oh yea... You should have your UTH hooked up to a thermostat so you shouldn't have to worry about it. I would get a thermostat if you don't have one. Until you can get one, I would unplug the UTH when the room temperature is high already. Just keep an eye on your thermometers.
 
I have a portable AC that vents out a window. I got it last summer when the big AC broke for several days. It was expensive- $500- but I love it. It has a timer so I can set it to come on while I am at work. It's insurance for my snakes if the big AC breaks again.

In this picture, I have it hooked up to a gecko cage. She isn't supposed to be warmer than 80F, and it's very difficult to get my poorly-insulated, no shade, not-so-efficient AC house down to 80. You wouldn't have to do that in a single room with a snake, though!

I think your snakes will be ok at 85, as long as the temps drop at night. At 90 they will be very uncomfortable.
 

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I have thermostats in the tank, one on the warm end and the other on the cool end, on the substrate. I think I will just unplug it when it's super warm out. However, we had a hot one today (about 90) and to my surprise my room still never got above 74 (I have a thermo that records changing temps, so i can check what the varying temps are), so perhaps my concerns are unfounded. However, I do appreciate everyone's feedback because there is no telling what the summer will bring. I am going to look into the portable a/c, and set out the damp hide all the time, rather then just at his shed times.

Thanks so much to everyone who replied! :)
 
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