cermaic heatlamps vs sticky heatpads; which to continue using

[beavermatic]

quick question

I have an adult ball and a 3 month-old ball python, each in their own seperate terrariums with the usually setup... some cleaned small rocks, a artifical log, some fake jungle plant, some fake tree limbs to climb on, cypress mulch for betting, and approriate sized water dishes.

The adult stays in a 40gallon reptile tank, and the small, i beleive is a 25 or 30 gallon tank.

For the adult, I've been using a heatlamp on top of metal screen at one end of the cage with a 150watt cermaic bulb... average temp of 83f degrees using a ambient temp that uses two sensors at each of the cage, which also has a hygrometer, which usually states the humdity around 43%, though sometimes drops to 38%, though can spike higher when i spray the mulch and walls with some water upto 70%, usually back down to 40-50% within a couple of hours. The lamp is also connected to a reptitemp 500r thermostat, that lets me turn down the heat a bit at night to idle around 78-80f degrees.
the thermometer/hygrometer is a Zilla model with a LCD interface and two sensors for each end of the cage... I have one of these for each herp i own.

For the young ball, its basically has the same setup, though it has a 100watt lamp, and the ambient temperature from sensors setup at each end of the cage is usually around 80, somtimes ill through a another 60watt on top to bump it upto 84 degrees during the day. the hyrgometer reads about the same as the other, usually around the 40%-50% range. the lamp is also connected to a seperate repitemp 500r thermostat.

I'm thinking that the humitidy is far too low.

I previoulsy used sticky heatpads that were on the bottom of the tank, however, I always worried about the cypress mulch drying out and catching fire, and that it didnt quite seem to heat up the tank as much as the bulbs do... I'm not positive that ball pythons need so much of a basking spot as they do constant heat (as they are nocturnal... little hard to bask in the moonlight), but the heat pads did seem to keep the humidity in the high 50 to low 70 degree range. I also noticed the small one having shed problems, and while I've taken care of that by bathing it every other day, and having sufficient rugged objects for it to rub against in the cage, i belive its the low humidity affecting it.

I'm considering going back to heatpads, but I some questions on what wattages, size, and if i can place them on the side of the tank instead of the bottom, for worry of burning the snake and/or the mulch.

any advice would be most helpful!

[Lolo76]

I use a ceramic lamp in my gecko tank, since it's too thick for a UTH - plus their humidity requirements aren't that strict, so a humid hide is sufficient during sheds. But for a ball python most would recommend an under-tank heater, since as you have noticed, the lamps will suck out your humidity. Plus there's a danger of the snake getting burned, unless you have some kind of "cage" around the heat lamp.

If you have glass terrariums, there shouldn't be any danger in the substrate catching fire... the heater goes UNDER the tank, not inside of it, so it shouldn't even touch their bedding. I'd recommend a ZooMed 30-40gal size for each tank, unless your ambient house temperature is pretty warm (in which case you can get the 10-20gal size for the smaller tank). And while you can stick it on the side, it's really better for their digestion to get belly heat. I have flexwatt belly heat in my rack, and none of my 7 snakes or tubs have melted yet. Good luck!

[beavermatic]

thak you for the info... I've allready got two repitemp 500r thermostats, and timer/dimmers that i used to use before i got those.

Before I go off an buy those heatpads you have linked to... anything out there would work as a small terrarium humidifier? not sure if anything like that exists?

[Lolo76]

thak you for the info... I've allready got two repitemp 500r thermostats, and timer/dimmers that i used to use before i got those.

Sorry... I totally edited my post right after you (apparently) read it, because I noticed you already had the repti-temps. So anyone else reading this now might be confused by your response, LOL.

Before I go off an buy those heatpads you have linked to... anything out there would work as a small terrarium humidifier? not sure if anything like that exists?

They do make humidifiers for small terrariums, as I remember seeing them at a reptile expo - I think they were made by Exo-Terra?? Doesn't seem many people use them for ball pythons, however, since it might get things toooooo humid. Have you considered switching them to tubs? I had major humidity issues before switching mine over, and now I can't keep it LOW enough!

[Lolo76]

Here... I think this is the fogger I saw at the expo: http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/fogger.php
ZooMed also makes one for a bit more: http://www.petco.com/product/109982/...:referralID=NA

[beavermatic]

Have you considered switching them to tubs? I had major humidity issues before switching mine over, and now I can't keep it LOW enough!

Tubs... as in Tubberware boxes?

[mainbutter]

Tubs... as in Tubberware boxes?

yes.

many people house reptiles in tubs, notably those that are terrestrial and have higher than average humidity requirements.

Look around at "reptile racks" on google and you'll get the picture, but you don't need a rack to have a tub.

[snakesRkewl]

When I used tanks I had to have both over head CHE and UTH to maintain proper temps, UTH isn't enough, and overhead by itself wasn't enough.

UTH's are for the snake to lay on to help it digest.
The snakes I don't have on belly heat digest slower than the ones on belly heat.

And yes, tanks are a pain, and tubs are awesome.
60% humidity full time and a push of the water bowl over the uth makes the humidity spike to 70% + making for nice one piece sheds.
I gave up on tanks after a couple of months and couldn't be happier.

I get all of my flexwatt at the beanfarm, good prices, prompt priority shipping to boot.
http://www.beanfarm.com/store/agora....=Heating&xm=on

[beavermatic]

you make it sound like i can go out and buy any old tubberware box and use it as a tank replacement... obviously theres some sort of catch to that, right?

I mean, I couldnt imagine heating up plastic to melt away or catch fire... is there some sort of special tubberware thats heat resistant? and what do you put over the top of it, a screen?

[snakesRkewl]

you make it sound like i can go out and buy any old tubberware box and use it as a tank replacement... obviously theres some sort of catch to that, right?

I mean, I couldnt imagine heating up plastic to melt away or catch fire... is there some sort of special tubberware thats heat resistant? and what do you put over the top of it, a screen?

The heat is controlled with a thermostat.
Even off of a thermostat the flexwatt gets to 120 degrees and doesn't melt the tub(in my testing).
I use sterilite locking tubs, 6qt, 15 qt, 34qt and 40qt for my breeders.

Tanks are nice for display, but so much hassle to clean, keep clean, keep humidity in, keep proper temps in, just plain a hassle compared to tubs.