New Albino Checkerd garter.

[infernalis]

Sometimes Richard I do forget That I maintain the whole room and that's not what everyone would do, so I should be more careful with my words.

Dorothy has arthritis in her back, so we keep our whole house around 80, and most people don't.

[ConcinusMan]

Okay...well considering all that you are saying, and the fact that I am starting to get a better handle on things...I have been trying to monitor the temps in Cee Cee and Selena's enclosure carefully these days. I usually use a 25 watt basking bulb during the day along with a flourescent light...and a 25 watt night bulb. I have noted that the temp during the day gets to about 77/78 degrees with the basking light I'm using, and goes down to about 70-73 degrees at night with the night bulb I'm using. I'm thinking that based on what you are saying, I should have higher temps for them during the day...and lower temps for them at night. What should I use to get the temps higher for them during the day? And, should I just not use any bulbs at night? I just worry about it getting too cold at night.

Your temperatures sound just fine. I'm sure if you don't use air conditioning, those temps go up in the summer. That's the thing about garters though, things don't have to be so precise. You're getting close enough, and there's a drop at night. 77-86 in the day sounds fine to me. And no need to worry about your night time temps. As long as night is not routinely falling below 55 F or so, but is cooler than daytime, don't worry about it. And I'm sure you're talking about air temperature. Yours sounds fine. If they act like they are seeking out the warmest part of the tank during the day, you could ad an undertank heater if you wish. That provides a warmer surface on the bottom but probably won't raise the air temp more than a few degrees, which is fine. Except for the hottest part of summer, the room I kept my snakes in routinely dropped down to around 60 at night. That's fine. won't hurt them one bit, and it helps them get a good rest.

[EasternGirl]

Okay...well, they do seem to stay on the warm side of the tank most of the time...but I have a feeling that has more to do with that being where their favorite log hide is located than temp. Right now I have the tank next to a window and it's been cooler there...I'm getting ready to move it since it's going to be getting pretty drafty and cold now this time of year...the place I'm going to move the tank has a heat vent near by...I'm going to monitor the temp there for a few days and then I'll decide if I think I need to add a UTH mat...thanks.

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah, you want good ventilation, but not drafty.

[celbii]

Well I guess that if the light is no good for my albino I will buy the undertank mat the small size. I do enjhoy the red light at night so I can see him though :P

[ConcinusMan]

Well if your snake tends to be active right after dark like every albino I've ever had, go ahead and use the red bulb. You can turn it on and off and the snake won't even notice. They can't see it. To them it will seem as if it is and has been dark all along. That is, if the room is dark other than the red bulb. I would get the small or extra small undertank heater though. But there's nothing wrong with using the red bulb for night viewing. I do it too.

[EasternGirl]

Richard...I plan on keeping my new albino in my bedroom...but I leave a nightlight on in my room at night so it is never completely dark in my room at night...should that be a problem? Also...I'm up late and the lights are on in the bedroom until about 1am...will that cause problems for him?

[guidofatherof5]

Not as long as he has a hide to be in or under.

[ConcinusMan]

will that cause problems for him?

I doubt it. Even when I use a ridiculously large computer monitor in their room, which does cast a little light on them, it never seemed to bother them. They still act as if it's night. I didn't mean it has to be pitch black. I just mean you shouldn't light up their room at night. I think doing that confuses their natural rhythms of day and night. Just try to make "lights out" be about the same time every night and don't interrupt that once it's night, or make it erratic. It confuses them and it interrupts their sleep cycles. Just like it would if you and I were forced awake several times a night. It would make you cranky. They're no different in that respect.

[EasternGirl]

Okay thanks guys.