Is My Encloser Ok?

[killbee]

Ok I just got my 1st Ball Python this past Thurs and I want to make sure his encloser is ok. I made it out of a 30" wide x 12" tall x 12" deep wall cabinet. I replaced the panels in the door with plexi-glass and sealed the doors with weather stripping. I put vents at the top of each side, nylon indoor outdoor carpet on the bottom and up about 3" on the back. I then used coconut fiber type substrate to cover the bottom about 1" think. I have a heat pad located under the carpet on the left side with the temp probe on top of the carpet and under the substrate. The temp reading there is 90 degrees which is under the clay pot hide. On the right side I have a cork log hide, a 75 watt black light directly above the log but outside the encloser shining thru a metel screen so he cant touch it. The temps on this side at the back are around 80 degrees. Humidity on that side is staying between 50% and 55%. This is all read using a digital temp/humidity gauge. The water dish is located in the center of the tank. Since I placed "Petey" in the encloser he explored for a short time and has now stayed in the log hide for 2 days. just peaking out every now and then. He did come out for a minute or two to explore the new wood climbing sticks I put in there. Do I have it set up correctly and should I be concerned about him staying in the log? Here are a few pics of the encloser.

[KCB Constrictors]

Very nice craftsmanship! I'm quite impressed.

Don't worry about him staying in the log. Ball pythons love the security of cramming themselves into dark, tight spaces.

It's a bit odd to have a heat pad on one side and a heat lamp on the other, though. I'd move that lamp over to the Left-Center of the cage, so that your enclosure has a distinct temperature gradient with a clear "warm-side / basking area" around 85 - 90 degrees and "cool side" around 75 - 80.

Also, if you're not using one, I'd get a hold of a thermostat to control your heating devices.

[Slytherin]

I really like the clay pot hide! Enclosures that are super recyclable and made from objects you can find on a budget are my favorite. Looks like a pretty rad enclosure to me, if everything checks out good with the temperatures and humidity... best of luck to you! I'm sure he's loving his log hide and living the good life!

[killbee]

Very nice craftsmanship! I'm quite impressed.

Don't worry about him staying in the log. Ball pythons love the security of cramming themselves into dark, tight spaces.

It's a bit odd to have a heat pad on one side and a heat lamp on the other, though. I'd move that lamp over to the Left-Center of the cage, so that your enclosure has a distinct temperature gradient with a clear "warm-side / basking area" around 85 - 90 degrees and "cool side" around 75 - 80.

Also, if you're not using one, I'd get a hold of a thermostat to control your heating devices.

The heat pad is under the clay pot where the temp from the probe is between 90 and 92. I have the heat lamp on the cool side to hold temps around 79-81. If I dont have a heat lamp on that side the temps fall to between 73-76. Do I understand correctly that Balls dont bask under a light but heat up from the belly using the heat pad? Thats why I put the pad under the clay pot and have the temps there at the 90 range.

[Skittles1101]

My only suggestions would be to get a thermostat for the UTH, as they tend to get too hot especially since he will probably bury under the coco fiber and above the UTH under the substrate will be much much hotter than 90 degrees. Also, you may want to consider two identical hides. They will trade security for safety....if he prefers one hide over the other he will not leave it...even if he should thermoregulate. Balls don't bask, to answer your question.

[killbee]

My only suggestions would be to get a thermostat for the UTH, as they tend to get too hot especially since he will probably bury under the coco fiber and above the UTH under the substrate will be much much hotter than 90 degrees. Also, you may want to consider two identical hides. They will trade security for safety....if he prefers one hide over the other he will not leave it...even if he should thermoregulate. Balls don't bask, to answer your question.

I hae dimmers on the heat pad and the light for now to control the heat, will that be ok for now?

[mommanessy247]

i think i've seen someone say here that a dimmer is good on a temporary basis but a thermostat should really be the long term heat device controller.
i like the looks of your enclosure but my concerns with the wood are
1) you sure it's NOT cedar?
cedar is a big no-no with animals.

2) how is the wood touching the heat pad not being burnt?
even if the surface temp of the wood directly over the heat pad says 90 degrees the heat pad itself is hotter then that & i dont have a clue on how hot the wood has to get before it becomes a fire hazard...

3) there are specific heat emitting bulbs that do not give off light, if you need to provide heat without stressing out your bp with a constant light shining down on him. bp's are nocturnal so...

4)bp's like hides that hug them on all sides including the top, something they have to kind of smush themselves into. & they should definitely be identical so the snake cant sacrifice heat to feel secure. you want them to feel secure no matter which hide they're in.
reptilebasics.com has hide boxes that are good for that providing you get the correct sizes. theres also a really cool sticky in the DIY forum on how to make homemade naturalistic looking hides.

other then those things i think your enclosure is great.

[killbee]

i think i've seen someone say here that a dimmer is good on a temporary basis but a thermostat should really be the long term heat device controller.
i like the looks of your enclosure but my concerns with the wood are
1) you sure it's NOT cedar?
cedar is a big no-no with animals.

2) how is the wood touching the heat pad not being burnt?
even if the surface temp of the wood directly over the heat pad says 90 degrees the heat pad itself is hotter then that & i dont have a clue on how hot the wood has to get before it becomes a fire hazard...

3) there are specific heat emitting bulbs that do not give off light, if you need to provide heat without stressing out your bp with a constant light shining down on him. bp's are nocturnal so...

4)bp's like hides that hug them on all sides including the top, something they have to kind of smush themselves into. & they should definitely be identical so the snake cant sacrifice heat to feel secure. you want them to feel secure no matter which hide they're in.
reptilebasics.com has hide boxes that are good for that providing you get the correct sizes. theres also a really cool sticky in the DIY forum on how to make homemade naturalistic looking hides.

other then those things i think your enclosure is great.

No cedar for sure, I have foil between the heat pad and the wood. I checked the temp at the wood without the foil and it was fine but I did the foil anyway. The bulb I'm using is a 75 watt black light, is that ok or should I go with a heat emitter? Should I get a smaller hide than the pot on the hot side since he's spending most of his time in the log on the cooler side?

[Skittles1101]

Wood doesn't ignite until over 400 degrees....so it's not a fire hazard. Hopefully your heat mat isn't getting that hot

I do suggest looking into thermostats though, the dimmer are okay for temporary basis and they constantly have to be adjusted....so unless you can check it 3-4 times a day it can be dangerous for the snake. I'd get thermostats for the heat mats and use the dimmers on any lights for the enclosure instead. 75 watts is probably very high and making it very hot. I suggest CHE over lamps any day...but with a dimmer you wouldn't have to get rid of the lamp...just know that at any watt they suck humidity pretty bad and you may have to make a humid hide or mist a few times a day.

As far as the hide, she probably prefers the log hide, I suggest getting two identical hides, of any kind as long as they are tight fitting and secluded. Like I said earlier...they will trade security for safety.