Having the power go out when it’s freezing cold outside can be bad, but when you’re a pet reptile owner it can be catastrophic!
Whereas some reptiles such as corn snakes and various skinks can handle much cooler temperatures for quite some time, other reptiles such as ball pythons and bearded dragons might not fare so well.
There are some specific steps you can take to reduce the risk to your pet however, and I will cover them for you here.
How Long Can A Snake Go Without Heat?
A short power outage is one thing, but what if you’re facing no power for several days. That’s not uncommon during major winter storms.
How long can a snake go without heat? A snake can go without heat for 6-12 hours as long as the ambient temperature stays above 55 degrees. If the temperature drops below 55 degrees for a prolonged period of time, there is a risk of major illness, or even death for exotic species such as some boas and pythons. Other snakes such as corn snakes, rat snakes and king snakes can withstand lower temperatures for longer duration’s.
Time is obviously a critical factor, but you don’t need to panic right away.
Your pet isn’t immediately exposed to the elements during a power outage. It will still be in its enclosure with radiant heat in the substrate and décor. The temperature will slowly lower, but will not instantly drop to critical levels.
I would recommend taking precautions immediately however, to preserve any heat possible and begin preparations in case the power doesn’t come back on soon. A house or apartment can easily drop down into the 30’s or 40’s if the power is out overnight.
Minimize Heat Loss
The first thing you’ll want to do during a power outage is minimize heat loss.
Your reptiles enclosure is going to have a lot of heat built up in the beginning, and you want to maintain that heat as long as possible.
Immediately begin insulating the outside of the enclosure with towels, or blankets, and be sure to cover any screens. You don’t want the enclosure to be air tight, but you do want to reduce as much heat loss as possible.
I would also suggest unplugging any heat lamps and UTH’s.
You don’t want to risk starting a fire when the power comes back on.
Many people think they need to move their reptiles somewhere warmer right away, and this just isn’t the case.
Most power outages don’t last more than a few hours, and your pet should be fine in their enclosure for that length of time. Especially if it is insulated with blankets on the outside to maintain warmth.
Keep Thermometers With Your Reptile
You want to be able to monitor the inside of your pet’s enclosure throughout the power outage.
Make sure the thermometer is on or near the glass, and facing outwards. This way you don’t have to remove all of the insulation you’ve provided. You can simply lift a corner and peek at the temperature.
It might be in the 50’s in the room, while still hovering in the 60’s inside the enclosure.
The idea is, you don’t want to move your pet until you have to.
The lower temperature is already going to increase the risk of illnesses such as respiratory infections. You don’t want to stress your pet any more than necessary. That will only increase their risk.
Know Your Reptiles Temperature Range
90 degrees might be the optimal temperature for your species of reptile, but it is not necessary all the time. There are temperature fluctuations in nature too.
The question is; what is the low end of their night time range?
This is usually the coolest you want to keep your pet at for more than a few hours.
Earlier I stated 55 degrees as the lowest you want to go, and it’s a good rule of thumb. Using your reptile’s natural temperature range is a better approach to your individual needs though. You really need to know the needs of your exact species.
Take a green tree python and a Burmese python for example. Both need basking areas around 90 degrees, day time temps in the mid 80’s and night time temps in the mid 70’s. A Burmese python however, can withstand much lower temperatures for a much longer period of time.
I wouldn’t worry about a Burmese python being in the mid to high 50’s overnight, but I would worry about a green tree python.
Tips For Prolonged Power Outages
If the power has been out, or is expected to be out, longer than 6-8 hours, you will need to take some additional actions to provide long term heat for your reptile.
Smaller Areas Are Easier To Maintain Heat
If you’ve hit the point where the temperature in your reptile’s enclosure is dropping too low, it’s time to make some moves.
You’ll have a much easier time keeping your pet’s environment at a safe level in something like an insulated cooler than a glass aquarium.
Here are some things your can use to raise the heat level with your pet.
- Hot water bottles
- Hand warmers
- Hot water in containers such as milk or juice cartons
- Hot rocks
The key to all of these items is to get them hot enough to radiate heat, but not so hot as to burn your pet. If they’re too hot to place on the underside of your wrist, they’re too hot for your snake or lizard to touch.
Use insulators such as towels, or barriers to prevent your pet from coming in direct contact with surfaces that might burn them.
As for heating the water or rocks, most gas stoves still work when the power is out. You might have to use a lighter or matches to ignite the flame though.
If you have an electric stove, you’ll need to go outside and fire up the grill. A pot of water, or some large flat rocks will heat up nicely on a grill.
Additional Precautions To Take
If you have to move your pet to a different container such as a cooler, there are a couple of additional precautions you’ll want to take.
Make sure there is air flow. You don’t want your pet in an air tight container.
Keep a thermometer with your pet so you can monitor the temperature.
Avoid drafts at all costs. You don’t want the container to be air tight, but make sure no blowing air is reaching your reptile.
Use Your Body Heat
A great way to keep your snake or lizard warm over night is to use your own body heat.
Place your pet in a pillow case, tie the end, and place them under the covers with you. This is especially useful if there are two people under the covers.
Lizards might be a bit more challenging than snakes to keep in a pillow case due to their nails. If that’s the case, try placing them in a container such as a shoe box with a rubber band around it to keep it secure.
In extreme conditions, you can also place your pet in a pillow case and keep it under your shirt while you make additional preparations. This way it will enjoy the benefit of your body heat as you work on a long term solution.
Back Up Power Supply
It would be great if you could run to the store and get a back up generator to provide some electricity. If your power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time, I definitely recommend doing so.
The problem is, by the time you get to this point, most stores are going to be sold out of them.
The solution?
Get a backup power supply for a computer.
They are designed to keep computers going for an extra 20 minutes or so, but a 75 watt bulb only uses around 15% of the energy a computer does. It will get you a couple hours of much needed warmth for your pet.
Rent A Hotel Room
If the power is expected to be out for longer than 12 hours, you might consider renting a hotel room.
You might run into scenarios where pets and/or reptiles are not allowed in the hotel, so you should be aware of that.
I’m not advising you to break any rules, or do anything to get into trouble. For me personally however, this would be one of those situations where I would rather ask for forgiveness than permission.
I would also go above and beyond with precautions to prevent escape. You DO NOT want to end up on the local news! And if any of your reptiles are truly dangerous (venomous or over 10 feet in length), I would suggest seeking alternative resources.
Take Your Reptiles To A Friend Or Relative
This is my final suggestion for keeping your pet snake or lizard warm during a power outage.
If power is going to be out for an extended period of time, you may opt to transport your reptiles to a friend or relative to keep until you’re up and going again.
Seek A Vet
After power is restored, you might want to consider setting an appointment with your exotic vet.
Depending on how low the temperature got, and for how long, you run the risk of a respiratory infection. These aren’t always noticed right away. In fact, it might be a couple of weeks before you notice anything is wrong.
The sooner any illnesses are discovered and addressed, the better the chance for a full recovery.
Be proactive and have your pet checked out.
Do Not Feed While The Power Is Out
This should be obvious, but make sure not to feed your pet until it has had a full 24 hours to warm back up to its normal temperature.
They need heat to digest their food, and you want to make sure enough time has passed to reduce their stress levels back to normal.
Conclusion
I would be remiss if I didn’t make a point about your obligation as a reptile owner to prepare for these situations.
Your pet is completely dependent on you for it’s well being. It’s life is quite literally in your hands.
If you live in an area where winter storms are possible, you should have some backup supplies already in place.
Owning a backup generator ahead of time will greatly reduce the risk of your pet losing it’s life in an emergency situation.