my new girl!!!

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...9/100_0026.JPG

was wondering if anyone could offer advice on a few questions I have as my research has yielded some variances........


1. ideal day and night temperature gradience for ball pythons, RTB and corn snakes......??????

2. how important is the light cycles, beside providing heat, for these species...And how do rack systems provide light.....?????

all are housed separately in aquariums, except the corn snake, which is housed in a rubbermade tub...I do plan to eventually convert to racks, but intil then these aquriums will have to do......

Nice lookin' boa ya got there. :)


I edited the post to provide a link since the image was too wide for the forum tables. Try to keep pics at a maximum of 800px wide.

As for the rest of your questions, BP's need a gradient of 92-94 warm side...and 82-84 cool side...ideally. You really don't want it to drop below 80. You DON'T need a different gradient for nighttime, for any of these species...unless you have specific plans to breed this year. I'll let others with more experience on boas and corns to weigh in on their specific requirements.

All snakes (so far as I know) need a "daytime" and a "nighttime" cycle....meaning...they need some light during the day...and darkness at night. The regular lighting you would use for any room of the house is fine...no need for special "sun lamps." Unless someone is using racks with totally opaque tubs, plenty enough light gets through them to provide "daylight."

yes I read that temperatures should be several degrees cooler on both side during the evening??? Are you saying the need this "hot side" 24 hours a day??

That's what I'm sayin'. It gives them the choice of regulating their temperatures when and how they need to. In the wild, they may slither out of their burrows at night and go lay on a rock that has soaked up sunlight all day.


At night is when they are typically most active and need the most choices. And even when they are sleeping....sometimes they'll sleep in the warm side...sometimes in the cool side. There's no reason not to provide them that choice at all times.