Lights for viewing?

Recently moved my BP to a new viv. i put a deep heat bulb and a halogen bulb in it to control the temps, but neither create much/any light. so i'm thinking about putting a light in there just for the purposes of viewing. some light is going to be needed just for hygiene purposes so I can see if she's defecated, etc, because it's a 4x2x2 viv with a lot of fake plants, so it gets real dark in there. what should I be looking at? what will disturb her the least? I was thinking about putting a pale blue LED strip in there and seeing if I can attach to some kind of dimmer so it doesn't disturb her at night but I can turn it up when I need to, to see what is happening in there.

I would recommend any appropriate/available dimmable LED, on a timer. I use some cheap 12v undercabinet strips that I got online like 15 years ago. Something more sophisticated would allow for a ramping period so that there are a few hours of dusk around the time you like to view the snake. I use Fluval 3.0 fixtures on some planted enclosures, that would allow for programming an evening period.

In any event, reptiles are best given a regular photoperiod (that's the reason for the timer) and something like a normal -- full spectrum -- color of light.

When I need to see what's going on at night and the room lights aren't enough, I have a couple small flashlights at hand (one is a tiny keychain one on my enclosure lock keys).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by seercirra

Recently moved my BP to a new viv. i put a deep heat bulb and a halogen bulb in it to control the temps, but neither create much/any light.

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Why doesn't your halogen bulb provide enough light? Is it that you want to be able to see into your enclosure at night when the halogen is off? Pics of your set up might help us advise you better.

The halogen bulb provides basically no light. Here are some pictures. I'm not done yet, I think I will add a shelf too, so she can use some of the vertical space. If I use an a dimmable LED strip, then should that be okay at the lower setting? And if so what color should I get?https://ibb.co/99kR2tZLhttps://ibb.co/Xxq0c4kX
https://ibb.co/jPsvNZ5N
https://ibb.co/99kR2tZL
https://ibb.co/Xxq0c4kX
https://ibb.co/jPsvNZ5N

Quote:

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Originally Posted by seercirra

The halogen bulb provides basically no light. Here are some pictures. I'm not done yet, I think I will add a shelf too, so she can use some of the vertical space. If I use an a dimmable LED strip, then should that be okay at the lower setting? And if so what color should I get?https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...bb.co/99kR2tZLhttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...bb.co/Xxq0c4kX
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...bb.co/jPsvNZ5N
https://ibb.co/99kR2tZL
https://ibb.co/Xxq0c4kX
https://ibb.co/jPsvNZ5N

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Here's a link to a post from a keeper that I respect who knows a lot more about lighting than I do: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ht#post2766575.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by seercirra

If I use an a dimmable LED strip, then should that be okay at the lower setting? And if so what color should I get?https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...bb.co/99kR2tZLhttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...bb.co/Xxq0c4kX
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...bb.co/jPsvNZ5N

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The setting you use depends entirely on the intensity of the strip. Bright enough for you to see well is fine during the viewing periods, and fully off at night. As for color, I personally think daylight looks too "cold" and usually get what's called "soft white" (3000K color temperature), but that's a personal preference.

I use cheap under-cabinet led lights connected to a mechanical outlet timer. Get lights with clips that you attach to the enclosure with screws, no adhesives.