i have a question about taking my snake outside

TeaNinja · 12-08-10, 04:47 PM

i live in norcal and its probably 50-60 degrees out right now, and its drizzling/light raining. if i take my dumerils out to cruise in the grass and such will he like it? or is it too cold, lmk.

/edit

i just read, in the winter months in madagascar it drops down to around high 40's (and its winterish) so it should be fine.

Will0W783 · 12-09-10, 08:52 AM

I make it a general rule not to take a snake outside when it is less than 70 degrees out. I usually stick to 75+ degree days and sunny to take them out. 50-60 degrees is, IMO, waaay too cold and you'd be asking for a lethargic snake and a potential RI.

Jenn_06 · 12-09-10, 09:26 AM

i think 50-60 is way too cold for snakes, it can get RI really easy, the ones in the wild are use to that kind of temps and have a much better immune system than our snakes. I live in MI right now and i dont take my snakes outside from Oct to April i just let them out in the house.

Nafun · 12-09-10, 10:10 AM

While it may get that cold in their natural habitat, they aren't slithering around in the grass when it's that cold. They're huddled up underground, or inside a tree, or under someone's house, etc trying to keep warm.

TeaNinja · 12-09-10, 04:22 PM

i took him outside in the rain yesterday and he loved it lol. i tried to put him back in his viv when i came inside and he REFUSED, he only wanted to climb on me. after he climbed everywhere i put him in his viv and he seemed super perky all night so i dropped his rat in at 4:30 am and he had a nice meal and has been hiding ever since. he seems happy as can be.

Will0W783 · 12-09-10, 07:43 PM

He didn't want to go back into the viv because you are warm. While new environments and sights/smells can be stimulating for a snake, please listen to us more seasoned keepers when we say that 50-60 degrees is way way too cold for a snake to be crawling around outside in. You may be ok a few times, but how will you feel when the snake comes down with a respiratory infection? Remember, these guys are reptiles, cold-blooded, and therefore rely on their environments to warm their bodies. In the wild, when it's cold outside, snakes are huddled up in dens, under rocks, etc, to try to keep warm. There is a good reason we have to regulate the temperature gradients in their cages so tightly...a bit too cold and you've got an RI waiting to happen...way too hot and you've got a dehydrated, lethargic snake. I cannot stress enough to you- PLEASE DO NOT TAKE A CHANCE WITH YOUR SNAKE'S HEALTH. We are here to help on this forum, but one can only offer advice; we can't force you to listen. Do your research on online care sheets, talk to breeders, whatever you feel you need to do, but I can guarantee you will get the same answer from everyone.

TeaNinja · 12-09-10, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will0W783

He didn't want to go back into the viv because you are warm. While new environments and sights/smells can be stimulating for a snake, please listen to us more seasoned keepers when we say that 50-60 degrees is way way too cold for a snake to be crawling around outside in. You may be ok a few times, but how will you feel when the snake comes down with a respiratory infection? Remember, these guys are reptiles, cold-blooded, and therefore rely on their environments to warm their bodies. In the wild, when it's cold outside, snakes are huddled up in dens, under rocks, etc, to try to keep warm. There is a good reason we have to regulate the temperature gradients in their cages so tightly...a bit too cold and you've got an RI waiting to happen...way too hot and you've got a dehydrated, lethargic snake. I cannot stress enough to you- PLEASE DO NOT TAKE A CHANCE WITH YOUR SNAKE'S HEALTH. We are here to help on this forum, but one can only offer advice; we can't force you to listen. Do your research on online care sheets, talk to breeders, whatever you feel you need to do, but I can guarantee you will get the same answer from everyone.

duely noted, but in the wild in winter time i'm SURE they have to crawl through wetness for 10 minutes to find a nice warm place to hide, and he had warm hides and a spot to bask and whatever he needed. i do not feel in any way that i put my snake at any serious risk, that's just my opinion though.

TeaNinja · 12-09-10, 08:27 PM

and on 2nd thought, if he was comfortable enough to eat later that night then theres no way he was too cold.

Jenn_06 · 12-09-10, 09:30 PM

why did you ask us if you are going to do what you want to do anyways?

TeaNinja · 12-09-10, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenn_06

why did you ask us if you are going to do what you want to do anyways?

i was iso opinions to base mine off of, and when no one answered that post i looked online and read about madagascar and made my own opinion. everything that was said was after the snake was already outside, so i couldn't have listenened even if i wanted to.
i still listened to everyone's input after the fact, and maybe it'll change the way i take my snake out in the future.

Nafun · 12-09-10, 10:09 PM

They don't crawl through cold wetness for at least 10 minutes during the winter in the wild. They brumate. When the days start to get shorter, they seek out a den, somewhere warm and protected and slow their metabolic processes down. It's like hibernation. They don't eat, they don't move. They stay there and they weather the.. weather.

Sure, he might have eaten later that night, but that doesn't mean a thing. He got warm again, and was hungry, so he ate. That doesn't mean that exposing a snake to cold conditions won't result in a respiratory infection. It will.

TeaNinja · 12-10-10, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nafun

They don't crawl through cold wetness for at least 10 minutes during the winter in the wild. They brumate. When the days start to get shorter, they seek out a den, somewhere warm and protected and slow their metabolic processes down. It's like hibernation. They don't eat, they don't move. They stay there and they weather the.. weather.

Sure, he might have eaten later that night, but that doesn't mean a thing. He got warm again, and was hungry, so he ate. That doesn't mean that exposing a snake to cold conditions won't result in a respiratory infection. It will.

ok, then i guess i lucked out and i was wrong.

Jenn_06 · 12-10-10, 07:14 AM

did not want to sound mean on the other post but over the years on forums i seen alot of new snake owners ask ?'s and dont want hear what other ownes havae to say and they end up with a sick snake or dead snake.but i understand that we did not post in time.

TeaNinja · 12-10-10, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenn_06

did not want to sound mean on the other post but over the years on forums i seen alot of new snake owners ask ?'s and dont want hear what other ownes havae to say and they end up with a sick snake or dead snake.but i understand that we did not post in time.

i've seen at least 5-10 posts of overpassionate pet owners absolutely raging and tearing into people who know less instead of just politely giving info or opinions. I, as much as ANYONE get incredibly angry and frustrated when people don't take proper care of their pets. but even good information gets ignored a lot of the time when the person presenting it does it like an a$$ (not saying you did this, but i've seen it happen a lot)
aside from not knowing 100% of everything about snakes, i'm a wonderful pet owner. the snake is healthy and happy and i raised and trained my dog from a 8lb bag of skin. I'm pretty logical and generally heed advice that is given to me, but i do not respond well to being chocked into catagories or being talked down to.

shaunyboy · 12-10-10, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenn_06

i think 50-60 is way too cold for snakes, it can get RI really easy, the ones in the wild are use to that kind of temps and have a much better immune system than our snakes. I live in MI right now and i dont take my snakes outside from Oct to April i just let them out in the house.

imo the ones in the wild will have a choice of going out in it or staying put in a warmer spot chosen by them

i would'nt take the chance mate

even when you take them outside in summer you have to provide them with the chance to seek a sheltered shady spot

cheers shaun