Regular Light Bulbs

[jason4173]

Can anyone offer advice on using regular light bulbs for heating rather than the infrared etc...any health concerns to my snake?

Thanks!

[littleindiangirl]

They wont be as warm, and you cant use it all night because it would stress the snake. Why not a infrared or ceramic?

[jason4173]

Seems like the regular light bulbs provide more steady temps. With the infrared it seems that my temps fluctuate more...maybe just me..lol..I have read that regular bulbs can be used rather than the other types but was unsure of any health problems that it may pose for my girl...

Thanks!

jason

[dalvers63]

If you're talking about using regular incandescent red bulbs instead of the infrared/reptile red lights, there is no harm to your snake at all. I have a Vision cage for my coastal carpet and use a 15W party light to provide a warmer basking spot.

As long as you can maintain the correct temps in the cage, you'll be fine with whatever red bulb you use.

[jason4173]

So I can use a regular light bulb that you would put in a lamp for daytime and a "party bulb" for night time lighting and heating safely?

What is the story with the "Moonlight" bulbs? I have seen these in some pet stores and seems like they are a little costly, as are most of the "special" bulbs, but if they are not necessary or do not provide anything special that the snake needs why spend the money on it. If my girl needs it I will spend it, if not needed I can stash the cash to continue working on my snake collecting...

Thanks again!!

[dalvers63]

So I can use a regular light bulb that you would put in a lamp for daytime and a "party bulb" for night time lighting and heating safely?

Unless you really need a "white" light for the tank I'd just stick with the proper size red bulb. All of my snakes get enough ambient light from the windows in the room and do not have any extra white light. For the few that have lights for heat, they are all red and are on all the time.

As for the "moonlight" bulbs, they're just another color bulb. Some of them act like black lights and change the colors of things in the tank (kinda neat when your green plant suddenly looks yellow!). Watch out for true "black light" bulbs though. It's been reported that they can cause eyesight problems with reptiles because of the UV radiation.

[jason4173]

I don't think that "Velvet" needs the extra white light either, but just want to make sure that what she is getting is enough to keep her "natural" environment matched.

Thanks for the tip on the "Black Lights" I almost got one and had no idea that they can be harmful.

[dalvers63]

I don't think that "Velvet" needs the extra white light either, but just want to make sure that what she is getting is enough to keep her "natural" environment matched.

Thanks for the tip on the "Black Lights" I almost got one and had no idea that they can be harmful.

Keep in mind that ball pythons in the wild spend most of the day in burrows. At the most they probably get a little ambient light to take the darkness away. Good luck with her!