Boby temperature question

What would you think the optimal body temp for a ball python is? I am not speaking of cage temps or ambient temps, I mean the snake its self.

good question, I've never checked temps on my snakes just figured if they have the optimal basking temp and the optimal temp on the cool side they can regulate themselves on their own.

Reptiles are ectotherms (poikilotherms), the temperatures of their enviroment will in turn become their body temperature.

There really isn't a set optimal body temperature for them, because their metabolism is directly related to temperatures of their environment. When you think about enzyme kinetics, the enzymes in our body function most effectively at approximately 98.6 degrees F. This is part of the reason why our bodies seek homeostasis at a constant temperature - to keep our metabolic processes at optimal level of functioning. Too hot: proteins dentature, too cold: our metabolic processes via enzymes do not work fast enough to sustain life properly. Reptiles can adapt to wider variations in body temperature than warm-bloded critters can.

By providing a thermal gradiant, you allow the ball python/reptile to establish its own optimal body temperature as Dustin said. Hypothetically, the 'optimal' temperature would be a warmer one, like what we provide as a hot spot to allow for digestion - but staying too warm all the time leads to unnessary expenditure of energy. The snake knows if it is getting too warm or too cold, and adjusts accordingly on its own. They are much more in touch with their needs than we are... its pretty fascinating really = )

If you're looking for a single temperature value that a ball python would be most comfortable in for long periods of time and still be able to perform its daily metabolic processes in perfect harmony, thats a tuffy!