|
One of the biggest concerns
for herpers during the winter months is what happens if the power goes
out. Since reptiles are cold
blooded and rely on external heat sources, a power outage in cold
weather can be a death sentence to your scaly friend if you are not
prepared for it. This is not
something you should wait until winter to think about, but is something
you should plan ahead for so you are ready if it happens.
The first thing you need to
do is have a plan set in place for what to do in case of power outages. This will save you a lot of time,
and you won’t be panicking over what to do during an emergency. The second thing you need to do
is be sure you have the items you will need on hand and easily
accessible so they are ready to use as soon as they are needed.
 Items you can use in case of a power outage can
vary depending on the ambient temperatures and the length of time power
will be out. For short power
outages, there are several easy methods of keeping your herps warm. Sporting goods stores (and even
K-Marts and Home Depots) often sell air activated heat packs that can be
used for smaller reptiles during short power outages. These will usually last several
hours, and provide a decent amount of heat for smaller herps. You can also purchase longer
lasting heat packs for reptiles that will last 30-40 hours. These heat packs work best for
smaller reptiles, since they are usually only a few inches square. When using these heat packs, it’s
a good idea to move your reptile into as small a container as possible,
to make the best use of the heat available. Bearded dragons, geckos, anoles,
and other smaller lizards can be placed in a small box (such as a
shoebox) with the heat pack underneath a layer of paper towels on the
bottom. The small size of
the box will help hold the heat in longer.
Smaller snakes can be placed inside snake bags or pillow cases
with a heat pack (wrap the heat pack in a washcloth to help keep any
hotspots from causing discomfort to your snake).
 Another option during short power outages that
also works well for larger herps is a hot water bottle. Fill the hot water bottle and
wrap it in a towel or washcloth. Then
place the bottle in with your herp.
Just as before, the smaller the enclosure you can keep your herp
and the hot water bottle in, the longer your heat will last. You may also want to secure the
bottle to the bottom of the cage with masking tape to prevent your
reptile from knocking it around.
Longer power outages require
slightly more drastic emergency heating measures. Your best, but most expensive
option is to have a backup generator to power your lights and heating
elements in case of long term power outages. However, this solution is not
feasible for most casual herp owners.
Fear not! There are
other, more reasonably priced options you can use to keep your reptiles
warm during outages.
 For longer power outages, you may want to keep a
portable propane heater in storage.
These heaters, while small, can easily heat an average sized room
comfortably. They are
relatively inexpensive, and easy to use.
They can be purchased at most hardware stores such as Home Depot
or Lowes, and even in the camping section of stores such as Target or
K-Mart. These come in many
sizes, from large ones that attach to the propane tanks used for
barbeque grills, to smaller ones that use 1lb propane cylinders. When shopping for these kinds of
heaters, it is important to be aware of their safety features. Look for a model that has
automatic low oxygen shut off system and an automatic safety tip over
device switch. The packaging
should also tell you what size propane cylinder you will need, how large
of an area it will heat, and how long a cylinder of propane will last. It doesn’t hurt to keep several
propane cylinders on hand. It
is VERY important if you are using this kind of heater that you keep the
room well ventilated! A
buildup of propane fumes can be just as dangerous as lack of heat. Make sure the room is well
ventilated, and you may even need to crack a window open to vent any
fumes. It is also a good
idea to keep these heaters well supervised. Even with the safety features
many come with, accidents can happen.
 Another heating option for long term outages is
to use a power inverter for your car that allows you to plug in standard
power plugs. Radio Shack
often sells these for about $30-$40.
With this, you can plug a heating pad or heating blanket directly
into your car’s cigarette lighter.
This is also a great device to have for trips to the vet during
the winter months!
During power outages it is
probably a good idea not to feed your reptiles. Reptiles need to raise their core
temperature in order to properly digest their food. During a power outage, the
options listed above will keep the ambient warm enough for your herp to
survive, but will probably not get them warm enough to digest. A day or two without food will do
less harm than undigested food rotting in their stomachs.
 While the main focus of this article has been
options to provide heat during the winter months, let’s not forget
that the flip side can be just as bad.
During the summer months, a power outage that cuts off air
conditioning in your house can be just as dangerous as a winter power
outage! For short outages,
simply turning off any heating elements may be enough to keep your herp
from overheating. During
long outages, especially on the hottest days, the temperature can easily
soar to dangerous levels. With
a little forethought, it’s fairly easy to provide short term cooling
for herps in this situation. Keep
several plastic soda bottles filled with water in the freezer. In case of a summer power outage,
these frozen bottles can be placed on top of cages to cool the
inhabitants. It’s not a
good idea to place these inside a cage, however, as it would be too easy
for your herp to become chilled from direct contact. Spreading a damp towel over the
top of the cage and the water bottle can also help provide some cooling
relief. For longer power
outages, you may need to use an air conditioned car, or move your herps
to another house or to a vet’s office that has power for boarding
until your power is restored.
When dealing with power
outages, either during summer or winter, the key is to be prepared. Taking a little time to plan
ahead and prepare for possible emergencies can save both you and your
reptile a lot of worry and discomfort.
|