What Temperature Should Snakes Be Kept At?

Did you know that snakes love the warmth? It’s one of the reasons they love to be held and cuddled by their owners! However, each snake has its own ideal temperature and desired humidity levels, so there is no one answer to the question, ‘what temperatures should snakes be kept at?’

Let’s take a look at some of the most common pet snake breeds and what their preferred temperature and humidity levels are.

What Temperature Should Royal Pythons Be Kept At?

In their natural environment, royal pythons would normally experience temperature of around 31°C so it’s important to replicate this in their enclosure. By placing a lamp at one end of the tank, you can keep around a third of the space at this temperature and cooler the rest of the area. The lamp should be kept on both during the daytime and nighttime.

Due to being used to warmer climates, they are not used to the UK’s humidity so it’s important to implement features to eliminate this. By choosing a wooden enclosure with large vents and sliding doors, this will reduce the heat and humidity at one end of the tank while the other ended is heated by the lamp.

What Temperature Should Corn Snakes Be Kept At?

Corn snakes are naturally accustomed to temperatures of around 32°C and this can be achieved by placing a lamp at one end of the tank to keep the other half cooler, around 21°C. The lamp should only be used for 10-12 hours per day; during the night, it’s a good idea to use a heat mat in the warm section of the enclosure to keep them at a comfortable temperature around 26°C.

Similar to royal pythons, corn snakes also struggle with the humidity of the UK so a wooden enclosure will help keep their space insulated. With the addition of a large vent and sliding doors, the humidity will be released from one side of the tank while the other is kept warm by the lamp.

What Temperatures Should Milk Snakes Be Kept At?

Milk snakes require different temperatures for daytime and nighttime. During the day, they require a lamp to warm the enclosure between the temperatures of 29-32°C. During the night, this lamp should be switched off and a heat mat should be used instead to maintain a cooler temperature of 26°C.

Once again, milk snakes also require a wooden enclosure due to its insulation properties. A glass tank is too efficient at releasing heat, whereas wood is the perfect insulator with good ventilation for consistent air flow in and out of the enclosure. This helps humidity stay lower and more comfortable for them.

How Do I Know If My Snake is Too Cold?

As we are warmer blooded compared to snakes, it’s understandable to worry that your pet snake is too cold. However, there are ways to identify if your snake is colder than it should be.

One way is to monitor your thermostats in their enclosure to always make sure they are at the desired temperature. A temperature gun is also a good investment to check the temperature of where your snake is sitting in the tank to ensure it is warm enough.

If your snake stays a while on the heated side, this doesn’t necessarily mean they are too cold, but the temperature is just right for them. If they stay too long on the cool side, this might indicate that their enclosure is too warm.

Raw Food for Snakes from Kiezebrink

It’s always a good idea to do your research before purchasing a pet snake, so you can give them a comfortable and suitable environment to live in. Kiezebrink are here to help you with their raw food diet by providing many varieties of frozen food suitable for your snakes and other reptiles.

From frozen mice and rats to day old chicks and insects, we’ve got it all. Have a browse online today.