[GarterGuy]

Putting all your heating elements on timers and thermostats is very helpful, then they're only on when really necessary. I worry about the whole heated room thing, just because it doesn't really allow the herps to thermorgulate much....there's no cool and warm spots. It's proably best to at least try and keep them in a relatively "warmer" area, just so the heating elements aren't running as much. As far as giving supplements rather then lighting...not real sure about that. While you could give them the vit.D3 in the drops, you're still not exposing them to the lights which also have a psychological benefit for them as well. As described by Alan Francis on his site, garters that have full sprectrum lighting usually breed more regularily then those kept in the usual colubrid method of rack systems. Basically if you're really worried about this type of stuff, keep to just herps. that don't need a whole lot of extra heat and such. I don't keep any tropical species of snakes at all. Everything I have is temperate, so they do well with lower temps. All my heating lights and pads are completely shut off at night...which I also think is good for the snakes anyways...gives them a "rest" period like they'd have in nature. I can also brumate them during the winter and basically shut down stuff completely for months on end. Even though we want to be environmentally conscious, we also have to do what is best for our animals and I think this has to be the first consideration when thinking about what can and should be done.

Roy