UV rays?

[craigc]

I recently bought an EXO-TERRA infrared heat lamp and switched it with my ceramic heat lamp. Does the red light infrared heat lamp give off UV rays?, I can't remember.

P.S I was told that a light with UV rays might make my stimson eat as she hasn't eaten for a month.

Cheers.

[africancichlidau]

some do some don't. You need to read up on the brand you have as there are lamps around that use glass envelopes and this filters out any U.V.

[Lee]

Craig

I wouldn't worry too much about your Stimsons lack of appetite, I have had many snakes over the years that have gone through periods of voluntary fasting, one of my Royal (Ball ) Pythons refused to eat for seven months before continuing to feed with no ill effects, I also had an adult Jungle carpet that would cease feeding each year at the start of her cooling off period.

One thing that did stop one of my Boas from feeding was retained Brill scales, something I didn't check after one of her sloughs, I didn't notice that they had been retained for about six weeks, as soon as they were removed she fed with 10 minutes.

If it was my snake I would continue to offer food at regular intervals, try placing the food in her hide etc, I wouldn't be too concerned at the moment provided she wasn't showing signs of weight loss or loss of overall condition.

Hope these comments are of some use

Regards
Lee

[grahamh]

G'day Craig and welcome

I wouldn't worry too much about 1 month. How old is the snale and has it fed since you became the owner. Also where abouts are you (Aus - if so rough location). I have two olives that wouldn't eat for two and a half months after I became their guardien. Give us a few more details.

rgds. Graham

[wattso]

Nag craig exo terra arnt uv. I use uvb/uva flouro for photoperiod but you could just take your snake outside in the sun for 20min/half hour? Remember but, if it too hot for you too hot for snake .Dont over do it. My snake hasnt eaten in nearly 5 weeks now, they can go months without appreciable weightloss im told, i wouldnt be too concerned. keep up the fresh water though!

[Artie]

You would not need expensive uvb lighting for a Stimson. A bit of sunlight even though they are nocturnal would prob. be beneficial.
As mentioned before, not too long, especially for a little 7 month old.
(From memory).
If you do, give the snake a chance to crawl in to shade if it wants, as 20 min. full sun at that age could be detrimental.
Ps Have you tried live food?
Cheers Artie

[NoOne]

lights used for uvb are made from quartz not glass, glass fliters uvb rays.

[SnakeBabe]

It is my understanding that any bulb of the “Screw in” variety does NOT emit UV for calcium absorption in reptiles.
It must be the Fluorescent type tube bulbs.
Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria

[craigc]

grahamh - I bought my stimson at the beggining of july, I took her back to the breeder to get her to eat at the start of this month and she did that day. I was told that she is around 3-4 months, shed twice before I got her and again a few days ago. I also tried to give her a live pinkie but she didn't want it. I live in Junee, half hour drive from Wagga Wagga.

Craig is that darens stimson does he have good setups and nice snakes?

[ackie]

if the light does not help her appetite at least it should help her grow

[grahamh]

Craig

we've had a few interesting posts over the last few months that suggested the photo period (length of daylight or simulated daylight) is important with regard to snakes feeding. If this is too short the snake thinks it's winter and may be put of eating.

There are quite a few other things you can try but to be honest I'd say be patient and offer her whatever the breeder gave her lat once a week for a few more weeks and see what interest is shown.

I posted a message some time back that had a whole bunch of the things that I had tried with my reluctant feeders. I'll see if I can find it.

Graham

[NoOne]

Photo periods don't mean anything when it comes to snakes eating, snakes depend on temps to tell them what time of year it is.
None of my snakes get a photo period, some have reflector spot lights (1 per cage) others have blue lights or kept in unlit draws, they do get light through a window but this doen't provide enough light to overcome the light globes. Lights are run on a thermostat and turn on and off all day and night, my snakes feed and breed well. IMO photo periods are not required for pythons.

Double check your air temps and make sure it can hide somewhere warm and just be patient, if it's fed in the past it will feed for you.
Also make sure it has access to water.

[Lee]

Many factors are required for the well being of snakes and photoperiod is one of those factors, it is afterall a natural event that all herps should be exposed to, that is not to say that snakes will not breed of feed without it.

Photoperiods are acknowledged universally as a benefit to reptiles, these periods are normally accomponied with seasonal drops in temperature which stimulate snakes to produce viable sperm.

NoOne, I hope you don't object to a little constructive criticism bit it is certainly not beneficial to have lights turning on and off all night long, there are many products on the market that mean this type of heating is unecessary, why not use a ceramic type heater that emits no light, there are also thermostats that restrict current to these and other types of heaters so that the temperatures are constant but can also be programmed for a night time drop in temp, this allows a perfect photoperiod through natural light entering the room.

Lee

[NoOne]

Lee this is the system i've been using for over 10yrs and my snkes thrive. I picked up this way of keeping through many large reptile breeders none of which provide an artifical photo period except a small amount of light through a window or sky light.
Like i said they do get some light through the window.

Tell me how the lights turning on and off will affect the snakes?
Like i said they are heated by blue globes(which snakes can't see) or by reflectors spot lights( these only light and heat directly below the globe), the reason i don't use ceramics is the fact that they get very hot and being a sparky for 6yrs i've seen these start a few fires in animal cages and some on the market are of poor quality.

My snakes breed well and my males produce enough viable sperm to produce full clutches of fertile eggs which i would say is pretty normal.

What major benefits do pythons get from a photo period?