FaunaClassifieds - View Single Post - Should my snake's skin feel warm to touch???? He's cold......
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Old 10-15-2006, 05:05 AM   #3
hhmoore
First, you need to keep in mind that our body temperature is higher than the temps we keep our snakes at. Even allowing for "cold hands", a snake that is not basking is not going to feel warm. If they are much below 82 degrees, they will probably feel cool to us. Also, snakes being ectotherms do not create their own heat - urine and/or feces will come out pretty much the same temperature as them...which is pretty close to the temperature where they are. Most people don't really grasp this for some reason, as evidenced by the water temperatures they use for soaking (but they have to be shown before they believe it. Water from the tap that is 80-84 degrees will feel slightly cool, or possibly neutral...most people think of lukewarm as feeling slightly warm to the touch, which ends up being warmer than necessary)
The best way to measure your snakes temperature is with a temp gun. This is also a great way to spot check all sorts of other temps. Instant readings on heat sources, basking areas, cool spots, drinking water, soaking water, f/t prey items, substrate, incubation media, eggs, etc.

*thermal mass is an important component in attaining and retaining proper temperature. A smaller animal will warm up sooner, but will also cool off sooner...so they tend to spend more time in warmer areas. Larger snakes retain heat better, and can actually end up increasing the temperature in an enclosure (I can provide an example of this if anybody is interested)