New wooden enclosure

Hey guys what's up new guy here and first time snake owner of a awesome pastel ball python hahaha I just got this tank for basically free from a friend that had his python in it. My question is I have a UTH that came with my tank kit and she loves going into her hide at night but I've heard good and bad things about putting it in the tank with her. I currently have aluminum foil wrapped on the pad and cage carpet on top so basically I wanna hear what you guys think about it Also I heard that I need to apply polyurethane on the wood to help out with humidity issues and I plan on painting the enclosure black.

Do not put a UTH IN the tank with the snake.

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Originally Posted by jwkempo

do not put a uth in the tank with the snake.

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x 2

Alright I took it out. I know they need the belly heat for digestion should she be ok with just a heat lamp if my temps are on point?

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Originally Posted by chris717

Alright I took it out. I know they need the belly heat for digestion should she be ok with just a heat lamp if my temps are on point?

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it is only a myth that snakes need belly heat for digestion. Belly heat is the easiest and least expensive way to add heat to an enclosure. That is why it is so common. In the wild ball pythons hang out in termite mounds most of the time, so in that situation there would be no belly heat.

If you are using a wooden enclosure some members have cut a hole in the box and "inlaid" a piece of glass. Then they put a UTH on the glass on the outside of the cage.

I have too come to this issue as I am designing my setup out of an old corner TV stand.

I plan on leaving 8" to 14" of space under the where the floor of the enclosure will start. I will make braces underneath, then use a piece of acrylic on the top of the brace with the heating pad under the acrylic. It will double as a storage cubby and will have a finished piece of something covering it. While you're at it, you can also make some short containment walls around the floor, that will sit flush against your walls. Then all you have to do is slide it out to clean it!

Basically, a shelf with a heating pad and a flat piece of acrylic on top. I'm also going to line and seal the wooden walls with acrylic, which should make cleaning, humidity, and mold control much easier!

Good info guys! I think what I'll do is run my tank with just the light and see how it goes. My wife and I work a lot so I'd rather not take any chances on buring my snake and her house up with the heat pad.

You can actually buy a Vivexotic glass heat mat holder for inside the tank, prevents water damage, thermal blocking etc...


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Lamps will work fine. Before the advent of UTH's, people kept reptiles fine with only over head lamps.