WINTER REPTILE TIPS
When the weather outside is frightful, our furnaces kick in to help keep us warm. Some things to consider to help keep your reptiles’ lives delightful through the cold winter months.
- Outside walls can be cold and drafty. Move your herp’s habitat to the warmest spot of your house.
- Monitor the temps in the basking, warm and cool areas of the habitat with high-low thermometers and adjust heating as needed.
- Be prepared for power failures. Have a plan for safely providing supplemental heat and keep some small camp-style heat packs on hand. Consider surge protectors and an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) to protect your reptiles and your investment in lights and equipment.
- Be prepared for blizzards! While many reptiles can go for a period with little food, plan ahead for your herp’s food and water requirements before you are snowed in.
- Despite your best laid plans, if your reptile gets hypothermic, warm slowly! Wrap in warm towels, gradually increasing heat over several hours with a heat pad or warm enclosure. Or warm in a water bath starting with room temp water, slowly adding warmer water until in normal range for your herp.
