Don't Let Reptiles Freeze! Power Outage Warmth & Safety Tips

As a reptile pet parent, you know your cold-blooded pet cannot produce their own body heat and is entirely dependent on their environment to maintain a healthy body temperature. While reptiles in the wild have various strategies for adjusting and maintaining their body heat, your pet reptile relies on you to provide these essential needs. Typically, this is done through heating elements, lamps, and under tank heaters. But what happens if there is a power outage? How will you keep your reptile's environment from getting too chilly? It's always wise to plan ahead and have emergency techniques and supplies ready before there is a problem. Let's examine a few ideas to get your pet safely through a power outage, regardless of the time of year:

How to keep a reptile warm without electricity

When your power is out, finding ways to insulate your reptile’s habitat or using alternative heat sources can be crucial.

Consider the following methods to keep your reptile warm until power returns:

• Insulate the habitat: Wrap the terrarium in blankets or cardboard.
• Relocate: Place the habitat in a room with a fireplace or wood stove.
• Body heat: Use your own body heat to warm your pet.
• Candles: Use candles carefully to generate ambient heat.

Here are some recommended ways to keep your reptile warm without household electricity—just be sure not to heat your reptile’s habitat too much and watch their dwelling’s thermometer carefully.

Get going with a generator

The ideal solution is to have a home generator capable of powering—among other things—your regular reptile care equipment, including heating devices. Even small generators can be powerful enough to keep your pet's habitat in working order, and you'll have peace of mind knowing that you and your reptile can easily withstand a power outage.

Use hand warmers

Chemical heat packs (also known as "hand warmers") are an excellent and inexpensive way to provide immediate heat for your reptile. Just be sure not to allow these hand warmers to come into direct contact with your reptile. If the power outage is expected to be of short duration, these warmers can be an ideal solution. Plan ahead and have a supply of them on hand—ideally enough to last several days. Look on the packaging to determine how long the warmer will last; some will only provide heat for a few hours, but other varieties will continue to function for up to an entire day.

Please note: Hand warmers are only capable of warming a small area, so you'll probably want to move your pet to a small enclosure (such as their portable carrier) during the power outage in order to create a smaller space for the chemical warmer to heat.

Warm up with water bottles

It's also possible to warm your reptile by filling a plastic milk jug and placing it in their habitat. You can heat water by placing it in a pot or other container on a BBQ grill. Be sure to wrap the milk container or water bottle in a small towel to prevent your reptile from coming into close contact with water that is too warm.

Use your vehicle

In an emergency, you can temporarily provide a warming (or cooling) environment for your reptile by placing them in their portable carrier and using your vehicle's heating system. Make sure your car is outdoors, and be aware that you may need to be in the car for an extended time to benefit your reptile. Alternatively, a vehicle power inverter and extension cords can be used (at least temporarily) to transfer electricity from your vehicle to the environmental control units of your reptile's habitat. (Always be sure to read and follow all safety guidelines before attempting this method.)

Limit feeding reptiles when they're cold

If you know your reptile will be exposed to cooler-than-usual temperatures for a day or two, avoid feeding them during that time. Pet reptiles require warmth to properly digest their food, and it is better for a reptile to wait out the cooler temperatures on an empty stomach than to have undigested food inside them.

Snuggle up

If your reptile enjoys being handled, you can quickly warm them up by holding them close. Be sure not to put them near your face and always wash your hands after handling them. You can also put them inside a pillowcase and then in your lap for extra warmth (pillowcases can be used for transporting your reptile if necessary as well). Put on a movie and warm your pet while you relax together. For longer power outages, you can contact a friend or relative nearby with power to temporarily take care of your reptile.

Don't panic!

While it's true that prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures could be harmful to your reptile, they are somewhat adaptable and can endure a few hours (or even a day or two) of slightly less-than-ideal temperatures without suffering permanent harm. By following these tips to prevent your reptile's body temperature from dropping too low, you can protect your pet from the adverse effects of a power outage.