Diamond Heating

[eitak]

Hello,

I was just wondering - I have two diamond pythons this will be there second winter, last year I was in canberra and had them heated over winter this yr I am in Townsville they currently have no heating (as before it started getting "cold" they obviously didn't need it).

The question is do you think for there second winter I should keep them heated? They are on my patio outdoors but do not get any direct sunlight in their enclosure and the temps lately have been about 15 degrees at night and around 26 during the day.

I have read not to heat them after their first winter but then have read if they aren't breeding keep them heated all the time but then I have also read that DPS can be caused by over heating. I was not going to worry about heating them as they are a healthy weight and I don't image the cold lasting too long and as they are a cold climate snake I imagine these temps not doing any harm. But I would like others opinions as I would like to make sure I am doing the right thing.

So anyone??? Thanks

p.s am about to go to uni so I wont be able to reply to any question till this evening.

 

[saximus]

I have read not to heat them after their first winter but then have read if they aren't breeding keep them heated all the time but then I have also read that DPS can be caused by over heating.

It's my understanding that Diamonds are the exception to this rule because of the possibility of DPS as you said

 

[snakelady-viper]

I dont heat any of my Diamonds through winter except for hatchies. DPS can be caused by over heating and over feeding If I were you I wouldnt heat them but the discission must be all yours in the end

 

[Cockney_Red]

Where you are I would leave them natural, but make sure you get them out in the sun, a couple of times a week...

 

[longqi]

Definitely a bit of sun if they are active in winter, and they probably will be, but also a little tip for diamonds up north is to try to keep the humidity down in summer
This might not be so easy if you keep them outside
With too much humidity they can be prone to RI so when the summers days are clear definitely get them out in the sun for a while to help dry up any possible congestion
It doesnt have to be direct full sun
Filtered through leaves and branches etc is cooler and seems to work equally well
I used to just put them in a shrub in the back yard and never had a problem

 

[Just_Plain_Nuts]

dont heat them at night, just give them a few hours of heating during the day in winter and a source of uv like the sun. Apart from that nothing is required