Optimum temp without gradient?

[KITKAT]

Hi all...

I have some lovely little valleys from Don, and I need to keep them in a very small enclosure for a week or two. I will be unable to have a temperature range in this enclosure, so I wonder what our experienced members would recommend for the temp of the enclosure.

Too hot, and they won't have anywhere to go for relief from the heat and will cook. Too cool, and they won't eat and digest their food well.

Any ideas?

[guidofatherof5]

Is the only heat source the room temp?

[KITKAT]

Is the only heat source the room temp?

No, I am fiddling with a gooseneck lamp that is pointed at one corner of the enclosure. I actually have it aimed at the corner, facing out. Right now, about half an hour after setup, the area shaded by a crumpled paper towel is 75, and the other end is 80 right now.

If I turn this off at night to give them a rest from the heat, it will be 65 overnight. I am nervous about leaving it on, because I will not be there to monitor it.

[jere000]

Do you have a thermostat laying around?It might help i just point my lamp from a distance away so it con't reall get that hot but my enclosure is pretty good sized.

[guidofatherof5]

No, I am fiddling with a gooseneck lamp that is pointed at one corner of the enclosure. I actually have it aimed at the corner, facing out. Right now, about half an hour after setup, the area shaded by a crumpled paper towel is 75, and the other end is 80 right now.

If I turn this off at night to give them a rest from the heat, it will be 65 overnight. I am nervous about leaving it on, because I will not be there to monitor it.

Leaving it on when your gone is your call. I don't see it as a problem being off while your gone. 65 isn't too cold and if you use the lamp whem your there it should give them the warmth they need.
The cool isn't the danger as a rule. It's the heat that kills quickly.

[jere000]

Well could'nt the snakes get a respiratory infection if you leave the lamp off at 65?

[KITKAT]

Well could'nt the snakes get a respiratory infection if you leave the lamp off at 65?

It would only be off 8 hours out of every 24... I don't think that would cause a resp. infection...

[jere000]

It would only be off 8 hours out of every 24... I don't think that would cause a resp. infection...

Porbably not but i would leave it on but i am mainly into boids so i could be wrong when it comes to gartes.

[Loren]

My reptile room ranges from 79(night) to 84 (mid to late day) for the warmer parts of the year, 72-84 in the cooler months, and I have kept many snakes, including some garters, at nothing but ambient over the last few years. I currently have valley, mountain (elegans), infernalis, ordinoides,and checkereds living without additional heat, and they are doing great. All I have noticed with the belly heat is that they get ravenous appetites instead of just great.
I am slowly but surely getting every cage over 4" heat tape to give a warmer belly heat spot, but even without it, they seem to good at those temps. Pointing a lamp with a lower wattage bulb at the outside corner of one end, as you said, should work fine for temporary as long as you check the temps after several hours to make sure it isnt getting too hot. Also need to make sure that no one else in your house, or any other pets, will accidentally knock the lamp over or closer to the cage. I would think a 75-80 gradient would be fine for a while. Night time temps can go much lower with garters than many exotics, as valley garters are typically found in areas that get pretty cold at night even during some of the active months. Just make sure they get several hours of heat a day to digest food and prevent them from slipping into brumation unless thats what you want.

[KITKAT]

snip...Pointing a lamp with a lower wattage bulb at the outside corner of one end, as you said, should work fine for temporary as long as you check the temps after several hours to make sure it isnt getting too hot. Also need to make sure that no one else in your house, or any other pets, will accidentally knock the lamp over or closer to the cage. I would think a 75-80 gradient would be fine for a while. Night time temps can go much lower with garters than many exotics, as valley garters are typically found in areas that get pretty cold at night even during some of the active months. Just make sure they get several hours of heat a day to digest food and prevent them from slipping into brumation unless thats what you want.

Thanks so much, Loren! Sounds like it can work then, and I am glad. I am working ten hour days for the next month, and have alot of "chores" when I get home, so am trying to keep them on my computer desk, where I won't miss a feeding in the midst of my hectic schedule. Right now they are tooling around, checking everything out. One is even basking on top of the crumpled paper towel... LOL!