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thermoregulation albino vs normal

AbsoluteApril

AbsoluteApril

mighty blue justice
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I've heard from time to time on this and other various forums about how albino boas don't hold their temps as well as normals or that people bump up the temps for albinos during gestation more than for normals.

I believe some had taken records of those temps? Does anyone have observations on this to share?

Personally I've never noticed any temp differences from my adult albino compared to the normals in the cage above and below her. I didn't notice any temp differences when they gestated but that was in '03 so I wasn't using a temp gun at that time.

Anyways, the reason I bring this up is because at my recent herp society meeting, a presentation was given by Mitch Mulks about zonata. He discussed a bunch of tests that his team had done over the last years. He will be publishing a few papers on the results but one of the things that really caught my attention were the temp studies. Studies done to determine if more melanistic individuals were able to 'warm up faster' and/or have a better heat retention. it would be expected that a melanistic animal would heat up faster than one that didn't have as much black. however his study determined that the coloration had no effect on the snake's internal temperature.

This is fascinating!

Anyways, so I ask about albinos here because I've heard it mentioned in boas before. Mitch's study did not include amelanistic individuals. I'd love to hear your feedback and temp readings if you've found the albino vs normal boa to show a temp variance that cannot be explained by cage/room position as I'd like to broach the subject with him but want some info to back it up.

Sorry for the long rambling post.
thanks!
 
Seeing as how most everyone has stopped using lighting to heat boas, their color should have no effect on their body temperature. The only effect that color has on the temperature of anything is by effecting light refraction. Most people heat with flexwatt or radiant heat panels, both of which would cause heat to enter equal sized snakes of any color equally. People who espouse this at this stage really need to go back to elementary school science class.

Chris
 
I agree, The darker the color the more light that is absorbed. I guess if heat lamps were the main source of heat you might be get a small change but doubt it would even be noticeable. I was always more curious about how fast temperature changed or was maintained in regards to the size of the snake.
 
JCCS said:
Seeing as how most everyone has stopped using lighting to heat boas, their color should have no effect on their body temperature.
Click to expand...

well... over the last 3-4 years I've seen people mention it quite a few times, and I thought those people were using heat tape anyways. but I get what you are saying.

hmm well maybe no one wants to speak up now

regardless, it was interesting to find out that the darker the snake is has no impact what-so-ever on it's ability to heat up and maintain temp.
 
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