New, Need help with small tank setup

Hey everyone,

So I'm new to owning a Ball Python, I've got one thats staying with the breeder till I get my tank setup just right, for safety's sake. I really don't want to hurt her not being prepared.

This is what I've got going: I have a ten gal glass tank (and plan to upgrade to PVC once she gets bigger), three sides are covered as well as the screen top. I'm using an UTH on one side, water dish in middle and light at the top on the far side. I've got two different bulbs, a 50 watt blue bulb (that seems kinda bright to me) and a 75 watt dark blue night bulb and I haven't a clue which is better. The humidity in the tank has been perfect for the past week, but my temps seem kinda iffy. When the light is on it regulates around 80-85, but when I turn it off it drops instantly. And it doesn't seem the night bulb warms it up at all. I've been considering getting a heat cable, what do you guys think about those? Do you use them, recommend them?

I do plan on upgrading a lot of what I have (and don't) in the next few weeks, some of which I need is a new thermostat setup, temp gun and the acurite thermometer, because I've just got a cheap thermometer/humidity gage in the tank at present, but they "seem" to be reading about right.

Any advice would be wonderful. I just want to make sure she lives a wonderful happy life.

- Ash

Please just go buy a New thermometer now they are like $10 at walmart. and Honestly I would just use the UTH and not use any lights. If the tank is in a lit room already.

I can do that, I was actually thinking of going out in a bit and buying some stuff sooner rather than later...

When the light is off it doesn't seem to get hot enough... the temps drop down below 80. Will it heat up over time perhaps with just the UTH?

- Ash

An UTH is NOT for heating air temps. It is mainly for a warm spot and needs to be regulated by a thermostat.
You would be better off getting rid of the white bulb and getting a red heat one.

You sound like you are off to a good start. :)
Definitely do invest in some kind of digital thermometer. But... do you have a THERMOSTAT? To control the UTH temperature. You need one of those!!

I completely agree that you will most likely need some sort of heat bulb. I suggest a red bulb (50W should be more than enough, if your home's temperature is in the low to mid 70's). You will be able to see your snake at night with a red bulb as well, without bothering her/him. This should be left on 24/7, as night time drops in temperature are not a good idea for this species.
More often than not you can return unused bulbs - such as the two you've mentione din your post - to the pet store you got them from, within their return policy.

Make sure you've got at least one hide on each side; the cool and the warm side. You don't need to spend a lot of money to do this; in fact, it can be as simple as a half tissue box... especially for a young snake who will outgrow small hides quickly.
I suggest moving the lamp to the middle of the tank, or closer to the UTH, giving the entire tank more of a heat gradient so your snake can get away from the heat if s/he wants.

So glad to see you're setting up your tank before you get your ball python! Off to a great start.

Best of luck!

Check out this photo tutorial on how to set up a glass tank. It also has links to thermometer and thermostats.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=201740

Besides a UTH, I'd invest in a ceramic heat bulb. They're a little bit more expensive but they just produce heat without light. BPs do fine with natual day light (for which they usually hide anyways) and red/black light at night bothers them.



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Ok, so I bought a probed thermometer and set it up. I'm waiting to see what the temps will reach on that. I will have to wait til I can go to town to get the UTH control, but I'm planning on getting one. With that, how does that work? Ive been wondering how I can control the temps of my UTH with the thermostat?
I will also look at the ceramic bulb when I go for the thermostat.

I checked out that glass tank setup and am gonna try and gear my setup towards that.

Thank you guys so much. :)

- Ash

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ashley2534

Ive been wondering how I can control the temps of my UTH with the thermostat?
I will also look at the ceramic bulb when I go for the thermostat.

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It depends on what thermostat you buy. If you buy a digital one like a hydrofarm or a herpstat, instead of plugging in your UTH into the wall socket, you'd plug it in into your thermostat. You'd put the thermostat's heat probe between the UTH and the glass. Then just use the digital pad to adjust the temperature.

Hope that makes sense.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Misha

BPs do fine with natual day light (for which they usually hide anyways) and red/black light at night bothers them.



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Sorry, but I am going to have to respectfully disagree with this completely (about the red/black light bothering them). They can't see either of those colours on their own. Which is why they are used as "night time" bulbs. But I do agree that a heat emitting bulb is a good way to go to avoid light altogether.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NH93

Sorry, but I am going to have to respectfully disagree with this completely (about the red/black light bothering them). They can't see either of those colours on their own. Which is why they are used as "night time" bulbs. But I do agree that a heat emitting bulb is a good way to go to avoid light altogether.

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This right here. The red and black bother us, not them.