As we get later into spring and temperatures rise, it is time to begin thinking about how to cool down your reptile rooms. If you have centralized air conditioning (especially if it allows for multiple zones) and/or a small number of devices that generate heat, your rooms may stay cool enough as it is. If not, then you may need to add an additional cooling device.What I've done is purchase inexpensive window air conditioners which work very well and keep the air circulating. I connect these to a prewired Ranco etc thermostat which has proven to be a great and reliable thermostat for both heating and cooling devices. Try to situate your reptile room so that the cold airflow is not blowing directly onto sensitive species. I try to situate the room so those that need cooler conditions are closer to the AC but I don't like it blowing directly on any of my animals and have the airflow pointed away from the racks and cages.
I have been keeping and breeding Oreocryptophis porphyraceus coxi for several years now. It is often listed as the Thai red mountain ratsnake or the Thai Bamboo ratsnake. This is one of the easiest species of snake to keep and breed provided you have an air conditioned house. They have great colors and are very hardy snakes but they really are heat sensitive and probably shouldn't be kept by people looking for a shoulder pet. I keep mine in 28 quart tubs in a rack without any supplemental heat. The colubrid room they stay in is between 75-78F year round. At these temperatures they will digest food without any additional heat. If you have an especially cold house, you may want to use some backheat to create a small spot in the upper 70s. Although I've never kept them warm enough to find out, it is reported that they may die if the temperature bumps into the 80s. I can confidently say they will do fine in the 70s. I use cypress as a substrate and keep the back half of the...
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