Help with my Ball Pythons cage set up.

[BP Tim]

Currently, I run that light all the time, its a black light that gives off heat that I guess doesn't mess with their cycle, I was told you didn't need to run a day time light. I just bought a heating pad, that I thought I should also put on the side with the light I run 24/7. to make that side of the cage much warmer. Obviously his water bowl is in the middle, and then his cool side with the other hide. How does that look and will that work with the heating pad?

The temperature guage in the middle says about.. 75 and the humidity is 70 which seems very high.. (my room is extremely hot during the summer) The temperature seems low so I was thinking of putting a heating pad under where the grey hide and lamp is also. Would that be better or no because of the extreme humidity? He's hiding under his hide on the cool side even at night atm so I think hes kinda warm?

I accidently posted this in BP GENERAL if anything can delete it.

[MsMissy]

Number one and likely the most important... Get a thermostat. Can go with a decent inexpensive one from amazon called a hydrofarm. You'll want to upgrade it to one specifically made for our soft scaly friends unless you can just order one now. the herpsat line from Spyder robotics is very good. If you have to order it online, pick up a dimmer for in the meantime.<home depot, $10 max> Those under the tank hearing pads can cook the poor little devil.

Number two... Crumpled up paper or something similar for him or her to hide behind or under. They seem to enjoy
dark places and solitude.

Best of luck with your new obsession.

[BP Tim]

Your number two, isn't that what my two hides are for? something for him to hide under.

Also, do you know if I have poor temperature and humidity for the snake with the numbers I gave you, and what harm can come?

[Coopers Constrictors]

The reason why she said crumpled up news paper is because that tank is far too big for such a small baby. And whatever hide is smallest is where he will spend the majority of his time. You should definitely pick up a GOOD thermostat, asap, for the heat pad. Hotspot 89-90 ... cool side 80.

Throw away that temp gauge and get a couple of these... http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermom...l-thermometer/

[I-KandyReptiles]

1). Are you using a heat pad? Is it being regulated with a thermostat? If not, it can easily reach unsafe temperatures.

Good thermostat:
http://www.spyderrobotics.com
Cheaper thermostat:
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S

2). Get rid of that circular thermometer. It's junk. Go out and buy a digital thermometer that has a probe.

You can find one called an Acurite that can monitor hot side, cool side and humidity.

3). Either get rid of that lamp or do some modifications. Heat lamps suck out the humidity.

Options:
1. Cover the screen with a damp towl
2. Cover with tin foil
3. Custom cut out plexi glass to lay on top with holes for ventilation and a space for the heat lamp.

4). Clutter up your cage. Use plants and/or crumpled up newspaper. Your tank is a bit too "clean".

5). Work on temperatures.
Warm side: 88-90 degrees
Cool side: 78-80 degrees
AT least 50% humidity. During shed it will need to be raised to 60-70%.

[BP Tim]

As soon as I get my next paycheck, I'm going to buy some of those digital thermometers, do they actually go inside the cage or on the outside? I see it has wiring so wouldn't want the snack to get wrapped in it. also I will buy a thermostat for the cage as I have yet to set up the heading pad.

Also, if I use tin foil, do I just leave it on top where the lamp will be? so just cut a piece of big enough for half of the cage then set the lamp on it?

[Vypyrz]

Also, if I use tin foil, do I just leave it on top where the lamp will be? so just cut a piece of big enough for half of the cage then set the lamp on it?

My first set-up was a screen top tank, and my solution for the aluminum foil was to cut some cardboard into panels about 4 inches wide. I wrapped each panel with foil. This allowed me to add or remove individual panels, as needed, to help with the humidity. Where the lamp sits, I left about a 2 inch gap so the cardboard wouldn't get hot. If I needed to cover the gaps, I would use strips of plain foil. Here is what it looked like...

The Panels:



With the lamp, and plain foil fillers:







Here is a photo without the lamp. If you don't need the lamp for supplemental heat, you should leave a gap at each end of the screen to allow ventilation.

[I-KandyReptiles]

As soon as I get my next paycheck, I'm going to buy some of those digital thermometers, do they actually go inside the cage or on the outside? I see it has wiring so wouldn't want the snack to get wrapped in it. also I will buy a thermostat for the cage as I have yet to set up the heading pad.

Also, if I use tin foil, do I just leave it on top where the lamp will be? so just cut a piece of big enough for half of the cage then set the lamp on it?

Those thermometers do go inside the cage. The unit goes on the cool side and the probe goes ontop of the heat pad. I'm not sure how some deal with the cord as we do not have the Acurite thermometers in Canada.

I just use a temp gun.

[BP Tim]

^

Thanks, I will deff keep that in mind.

Also, The humidity doesn't seem to be the problem at the moment assuming my :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:ty temperature thing is right at the humidity is at 60-70% (seems high for him not being in shed) What I mostly am worried about is that it seems like his cage is to cold =/

[I-KandyReptiles]

I highly doubt your humidity is that high.

As I've said, those analog thermometers are complete trash. I think you'll be surprised once you have a digital one and see your actual temperatures/humidity