Night time UVB/amount

Hey, I got a question. I'm getting a female ball python and I do not want to put her with my male. (I don't want them to breed/ also keeping 2 together causes stress). So I'm buying her a 20 gallon snake kit from zoo med. as far as lighting/heating goes, it only comes with a deep dome blue day lamp and a heating pad, what UVB amount should I buy for this 20 gal?

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Originally Posted by The royal python

Hey, I got a question. I'm getting a female ball python and I do not want to put her with my male. (I don't want them to breed/ also keeping 2 together causes stress). So I'm buying her a 20 gallon snake kit from zoo med. as far as lighting/heating goes, it only comes with a deep dome blue day lamp and a heating pad, what UVB amount should I buy for this 20 gal?

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Ball pythons are nocturnal and do not require UV's

So I don't need any heat source for night? No red night lamp or anything?

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Originally Posted by The royal python

So I don't need any heat source for night?

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You need to maintain the same temperature night and day.

You can do so with your heat pad but you MUST get a thermostat to control your temperature.

An accurate reading with a digital thermometer is also a must.

Agreed they need the same temps day and night, a slight drop would be ok, but I keep mine at the same temps day or night. As also stated you need a t-stat to control the heat pad, VERY IMPORTANT, as they easily get more than hot enough to burn your snake...And as also stated no UVB is required for bp's..enjoy your new bp :D

K, I have both

Yeah, I heard heat pads can over heat but I have a spot I'll put it to maintain its heat and not over heat

Also thanks!

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Originally Posted by The royal python

Yeah, I heard heat pads can over heat but I have a spot I'll put it to maintain its heat and not over heat

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it is not about placement it is about reliable thermostat, a heat pad that is uncontrolled will reach temperatures that will be too high and
can cause serious issues, from burn to fire hazard.

Again you need a thermostat to maintain and control the heat.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

it is not about placement it is about reliable thermostat, a heat pad that is uncontrolled will reach temperatures that will be too high and
can cause serious issues, from burn to fire hazard.

Again you need a thermostat to maintain and control the heat.

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Case in point(for everyone):

In my younger days when attempting to use a UTH without heat control and leaving it "open air", I came home to find my UTH hanging from the tank with a melted hole in the middle of it and sparking. After using the UTH for less than 60 days. Thankfully I had it set up the way I did so it didn't burn the animal nor actually come in contact with anything flammable.

For a time I thought UTHs were the devil until I finally did some research(thank you BP.net) about them and using a thermostat.