I have been involved in a discussion on the Indigo Forum “Kingsnake.com” Most of the subscribers are involved in herpetoculture. An interesting yet simple question was posed and I had to dig a bit for an answer but wanted a second opinion. Here is the question.
“I have another question though. Why such low temps? I understand that high temps cause them to regurgitate, but what do they do in the wild? I mean, they live down here in the sweat bowl of the southern south. Do they stay in dens except very early in the mornings and very late in the afternoon? Hell, in midsummer some nights don't get below 80 degrees.”
he is referencing Eastern Indigo. By low temps most breeders keep them 74F- 76F My answer is as follows but wanted a second opinion.
My Answer: I for one do not subscribe to the low temperature following and I also do not keep Easterns. I do however keep Cribos the tropical version of Indigo. I have some preliminary findings that having access to real sun stimulates behavior that captives do not express due to the lack of sun. I have a couple of theories. In the wild most snakes have a routine. A routine might go something like this, an Indigo sits in the mouth of a burrow to catch morning sun and once heated up will forage for food. After a successful hunt and using energy “getting exercise” retreats to its burrow. If an indigo goes just four feet underground the temperature can get as low as 56F possibly lower. The Eastern Indigo might go underground to digest food which is the opposite of what most snakes do. It is quite possible that it is an adaptation that is unique to the Indigo. An indigo in captivity has nowhere to go. Accounts of captive Indigo suggest that once heated up they want to move, do something, go somewhere but with nowhere to go why heat up. There is no doubt that a wild Indigo will reach a body temperature 90F or so “would make a good study” but once they get a meal in them what do they do “ another good study”?
Just curious if there is any hard data on this subject?
Life without risk is to merely exist |
A snakes routine
Posted - 02 Jul 2007 : 23:59:31
