Temp Problem?

[Abeall]

Okay. First off. This is my first Ball Python, and my fiance and I both got one. They are in the same tank until tomorrow. But already ive noticed a slight problem with the temperature. We bought the Snake kit from petco, but the snakes from a breeder. the kit came with: 1) Day Blue Light 75W 2) Night Black Heat Bulb 75 WIm doing 12 hour timers, buying one tomorrow. But, the bulbs dont seem to be heating the terrarium quite enough? its averaging at 78-80. from what ive read this isnt great. would a 100W bulb be sufficient? or should i invest in a heat mat? its a 20-Long Glass Terrarium. And can someone please explain the day and night bulbs? do they both put off heat? should it be enough to warm my snake? etc.

[PitOnTheProwl]

The lights will do nothing but kill your humidity
You want a heat mat and a good thermostat.
Depending on your normal house temps you will probably need to use the bulbs to keep the ambient temp up as well.
No, the lights by themselves wont be enough.

[mercerasian]

I'm also new to owning a ball python (I have yet to actually get the ball python, just finished setting up the enclosure this weekend) but it's my understanding that day bulbs are not good for snakes as they don't really like light. Use the night bulb and pick up an extra heat pad to put under the hot side hide. This heat pad should be regulated automatically by a thermostat or manually with a combination of a thermometer and rheostat. Note the difference between a thermostat and a thermometer. Temperature inside the hot side hide should be about 90 degrees, ambient air on the hot side should be higher 80s while cool side is lower 80s. Humidity should be about 50 percent regularly and 60 when the snake is shedding.

The difference between a day and night bulb is they both put off heat but day bulbs have visible light while night bulbs are not, which is why most ball python owners use night bulbs or infrared bulbs in their enclosures so light isn't shining on their snake so much.

All my info comes from days and days of researching. I tend to do as much research as possible when I take up a hobby and ball python herpetology is no different. Good luck with your new snakes!

[I-KandyReptiles]

I'm also new to owning a ball python (I have yet to actually get the ball python, just finished setting up the enclosure this weekend) but it's my understanding that day bulbs are not good for snakes as they don't really like light. Use the night bulb and pick up an extra heat pad to put under the hot side hide. This heat pad should be regulated automatically by a thermostat or manually with a combination of a thermometer and rheostat. Note the difference between a thermostat and a thermometer. Temperature inside the hot side hide should be about 90 degrees, ambient air on the hot side should be higher 80s while cool side is lower 80s. Humidity should be about 50 percent regularly and 60 when the snake is shedding.

The difference between a day and night bulb is they both put off heat but day bulbs have visible light while night bulbs are not, which is why most ball python owners use night bulbs or infrared bulbs in their enclosures so light isn't shining on their snake so much.

All my info comes from days and days of researching. I tend to do as much research as possible when I take up a hobby and ball python herpetology is no different. Good luck with your new snakes!

Good on you! You seem to know your stuff.

The only thing I feel needs to be added, is that the heat bulbs WILL be a pain for humidity unless you change the set-up a bit.

Try covering the screen top with tinfoil, Saran wrap, or a wet towel (obviously leaving a small space open for ventilation)

Or you could get a piece of plexiglass, and drill holes for ventilation.

Also, how are you measuring these temps? Honestly, a heat gun is amazing. If you're using an analog thermometer, chances are your temperatures are way off.

[mercerasian]

Good on you! You seem to know your stuff.

The only thing I feel needs to be added, is that the heat bulbs WILL be a pain for humidity unless you change the set-up a bit.

Try covering the screen top with tinfoil, Saran wrap, or a wet towel (obviously leaving a small space open for ventilation)

Or you could get a piece of plexiglass, and drill holes for ventilation.

Also, how are you measuring these temps? Honestly, a heat gun is amazing. If you're using an analog thermometer, chances are your temperatures are way off.

Thanks! I don't like to rush into things and then end up worse for wear so I do my research and try to do it right the first time. I'm currently trying to steady my temps and humidity for the next week and hopefully get my BP next weekend.

To the OP, I noticed you didn't mention humidity in your post and unless you already have a hygrometer, you will need to get one of those too. It's best to get a digital thermometer that's also capable of reading humidity. In my setup, I'm currently using 2 thermometer/hygrometer combos (both for ambient air, one on the hot side and one on the cold side), a thermostat for the under tank heater (UTH), and a table top light dimmer for my heat lamp. Personally this might be a bit of overkill but it allows me to monitor the enclosure that much more closely.

[PitOnTheProwl]

BTW the stick on guages that come with the kit dont work.
you want an in door/ out door digital unit.

[Abeall]

Thanks! Yeah I am heading now to pick up a new thermometer/Humidity tester. I realized the one with the tank didnt work. But i Used it as a guess for the post. Considering my room stays about 70-72 deg, there is no way a 75W day bulb is going to keep it warm. And likewise with the Night Bulb. Picking up my 2nd terrarium too! So excited! So. New Question... Should I just lose the day bulb? maybe get another night bulb for that dome and run two night bulbs? I thought the snakes needed The daylight simulation for calcium and nutrients or something?

[satomi325]

I thought the snakes needed The daylight simulation for calcium and nutrients or something?

Ball pythons are nocturnal animals. They hardly see actual sunlight. And snakes don't need UV light to be healthy. That's more of a lizard thing. So remember that when someone tells you otherwise.

I once had an unqualified vet tell me that the only treatment my sick rescue snake(respiratory infection)needed to heal was UV light. My jaw dropped. I could not believe that was his diagnosis. I never went back to that guy. He clearly didn't know what he was talking about.


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[Abeall]

Ball pythons are nocturnal animals. They hardly see actual sunlight. And snakes don't need UV light to be healthy. That's more of a lizard thing. So remember that when someone tells you otherwise.I once had an unqualified vet tell me that the only treatment my sick rescue snake(respiratory infection)needed to heal was UV light. My jaw dropped. I could not believe that was his diagnosis. I never went back to that guy. He clearly didn't know what he was talking about.Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Okay. Thanks. So is it safe to run two blacklights then? or will one suffice?

[mercerasian]

Okay. Thanks. So is it safe to run two blacklights then? or will one suffice?

We can't tell you that. You just have to try it yourself. Once you get the thermometer/hygrometer and the heat pad, run them and see if your readings get better. If you see 1 bulb isn't adequate, use a higher power bulb. I don't think running two bulbs is advised, just a higher power bulb. I use a 75W infrared bulb in my 20 gallon long tank and it keeps the temp up just fine. And my house around this time of year is always under 70 degrees so I don't see why you'd need more power either.