Basking vs Belly heat

I am sorry that I post stuff that you guys have probably seen a million times. New "mom" just wanting to make sure I am doing everything I can for my babies! So, I have been reading in different places that, for bps, belly heat is more important than a basking spot. Is that true? I mean, don't get me wrong, I have a spot set up for them to bask, but they never seem to do it (granted, I don't watch the tank 24/7 either). The UTH is under one of the hides in the tank and that is where Matilda spends most of her time. So, I am just curious as to if bps bask that much if their temps and humidity are kept the way they should be?

Ball pythons don't normally bask because they are nocturnal. They don't use the sun like how a lizard would. They get warmth from residual ground heat and ambient heat.

But in captivity, as long as your temperature gradient is within standard, its fine to use a heat lamp. However, heat lamps usually make maintaining humidity a pain as it dries out the air.

Its just whatever works for you and your snake. Most people do use belly heat only. But sometimes supplemental heat from a lamp is needed to reach ideal temps.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

I use both in the winter. Belly and basking because the house is cooler. In the summer I only use a UTH on a thermostat. My spider is the only one in a tank now but he uses both sides (hot and cool).

Thanks! It is a bit cool in my house right now because North Texas has been in a freezer for a few weeks. When summer rolls around, I will just use the UTH because, you are right, maintaining humidity with the lamps is a pain.

Belly heat is more efficient then a overhead lamp but not more important or better (just keep in mind that heat travels up ;))

It's all about reaching proper temps sometimes it can even be done without either ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by satomi325

Ball pythons don't normally bask because they are nocturnal. They don't use the sun like how a lizard would. They get warmth from residual ground heat and ambient heat.

But in captivity, as long as your temperature gradient is within standard, its fine to use a heat lamp. However, heat lamps usually make maintaining humidity a pain as it dries out the air.

Its just whatever works for you and your snake. Most people do use belly heat only. But sometimes supplemental heat from a lamp is needed to reach ideal temps.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

---

X2 but I honestly would get rid of the basking spot because its not needed and makes it harder to keep humidity up

Not ideal for everyone, but I don't use belly, back or basking. I use everywhere heat!

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/10/aru8uqu9.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/10/e6ezy8eg.jpg


I like my Dubstep to go Wop Wop Wop Wop

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LadyByrd

I am sorry that I post stuff that you guys have probably seen a million times. New "mom" just wanting to make sure I am doing everything I can for my babies!

---

I don't have a problem answering "repeat" questions, as everyone's situation is a little different. Also, there's only so much you can figure out from someone else's thread they posted many years ago lol


To your question, I use a Heat Lamp to maintain ambient temps (which are really cold in our house) and a UTH to heat the hot spot.