A View to a Kill

[Jörmungandr]

Is it true that BP's cannot see red (infra red?) light? I'm trying to find something that will allow me to watch my Royal Python feed without upsetting his nocturnal eating habits. I would gladly appreciate any suggestions.

[Bogertophis]

I'm not sure if they can "see" it or not, but they can certainly perceive it with their heat-sensing pits anyway. I have used red or "black" incandescent bulbs (dimmed down substantially) to allow for some nocturnal warmth in winter for various snakes I keep- my Aussie spotted python often chooses to bask under it (instead of using her UTH-warmed hide), & my Trans Pecos rat snakes also snuggle under their "night-lights", frequently sleeping in baskets wired into their branches, so honestly I don't see what the concern is. I doubt that it would bother your BP one little bit.

[EL-Ziggy]

I’ve used red heat lamps and LEDs for nighttime viewing but I don’t leave the lights on overnight. I agree with Bogertophis it shouldn’t bother your snake at all.

[Jörmungandr]

I found this over at Aussiepythons.com:"[BP's] prefer to sneak around in as dark as possible scenarios. Any visible light spectrum can be seen by a snake though including red and blue so if you want something for your viewing purposes then go for one of these colors. So I went out and bought a red lamp from Zoo Med that specifically said that it was "excellent for nocturnal viewing", along with a medium mouse and Deac (my Royal Python) gobbled him in a minute and I could see everything under the red light.

[Bogertophis]

That's a "win". Even if your snake can see that dim red light, it doesn't mean it bothers him (& apparently it doesn't). Don't forget there's moonlight in the natural world too.