heating diamonds

[donmega695]

i have a diamond (13 month) that doesnt have a heat mat (stoped using in december when it was poinless) she still eats well and is a very happy and health snake, am i right in thinking it would be better for her to use her mat again over the cool seasons, she is an indoor diamond that does get filtered natural light (i think this has been her key)

[dellywatts]

Does she have any heat source at all?

I wouldn't use a heat mat. I would use heat globes, with a thermostat. Do you have a UV light set up, if not i would have one of them aswell.

[cris]

Keeping any python in even temperatures over any extended period is asking for trouble, its even worse for diamond pythons.

Captive snakes should always have access to warm and cool temperatures.

[choppy]

UV heat lamp during daytime hours is the only heat source I provide my diamonds year round mind you I am in Hunter valley area and could keep them outdoors if I wanted. This may mean you need to use a thermo controled heat source if you live in an area that gets particuarly cold during winter. Alternatively you'll have the opposite issue in summer if it's a warmer climate.

[donmega695]

i live in hunter valley, i do you heat mats but over summer a heat mat wont even come on during the day its to hot. i am in the process of setting up a better enclosure 1 with a UV light set up.

[choppy]

way 2 go. heaps easy and fairly cheap : )

[cris]

Originally Posted by donmega695

i live in hunter valley, i do you heat mats but over summer a heat mat wont even come on during the day its to hot. i am in the process of setting up a better enclosure 1 with a UV light set up.

What sort of temperatures are you talking about? im not an expert on diamonds but if they are kept to warm they wont live long, im not sure what temperatures would be too high, hopefully someone else knows.
Generally keeping diamonds is not reccomended in warm areas as they dont cope very well.

[Chimera]

Originally Posted by cris

Keeping any python in even temperatures over any extended period is asking for trouble, its even worse for diamond pythons.

Captive snakes should always have access to warm and cool temperatures.

This is made tricky with diamonds as they need access to cold temperatures. Probably the best trick is to have the heat on a separate timer which will allow the diamond to get their body temp up to about 27-30 odd for about 2 - 4 hours a day. Having any heat source on perminantly in a diamond enclosure will result in the enclosure being too hot.

You can also provide a better heat gradient by having a tall enclosure with plenty of ventilation.

[mungus]

I'm no expert, but I prefer large enclosure's for my Diamonds.
Higher the better, 1m - 1.2m in hight [min] & 1.2 wide.
Reason is that I get a better temperature gradient through my enclosure.
Hot spot about 31 deg. & cool spot 23 deg. in summer on a normal day - no heat at night.
In winter I turn on the a seperate globe on a timber to give them a heat spot for sat 2-3 hrs at
first light in the morning. Then the thermostat cuts in early arvo to make sure the cool spot in the enclosure does'nt drop below 15 deg at night - thermostat set on a timmer.
Don't use any UV normally, fellow breeders I know do the same for the past 15 years, and have had no problems at all. The most important issue with diamonds is NOT overfeeding and over heating them.
Cooling takes place every year, even if not intending to breed.
Hope this helps you out.
Aleks.