Heating and lid help

I just picked up my BP Saturday. Here's a link to my pics thread. http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=39583 Sunday I went out and purchased alot of the proper parts for caring for Hercules. The heat rock is out which had been his only form of heat and I have a UTH in now. I need to get the heat much higher in the tank and I'm looking for suggestions. The Tank is a 55Gal. 48x13 and has a plastic divider in the center. The current lid is two sections and it's vented plastic. It appears screws should be loosened to slide a locking mechanism in each corner. I am guessing for another source of heat the best would be a lamp or ceramic type bulb hooked to a thermostat? If this is the case I would need to replace the plastic lids which I wish to do anyway. I am having a really difficult time finding something to work. If anyone has suggestions on lid or extra heat please let me know. Thanks.......

If you get a 100 watt ceramic bulb on a thermostat to control the ambient temperature, you should not have any problem resting it on a plastic top (as long as the element does not come in contact with the plastic). Max temp should be around 86. Unfortunately with a 55 gal, you will probably need two one for each side. However you will only need one thermostat to control both.


That is a big snake I would take the divider out to give him the full 48in. to move around in. You will need two hides for him (one on each side). You could use two shoe boxes with holes cut into the side until you get something more durable...

Good Luck,

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That is a big snake I would take the divider out to give him the full 48in. to move around in. You will need two hides for him (one on each side). You could use two shoe boxes with holes cut into the side until you get something more durable...

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Thanks......The tank itself is not divided so he has full access. :) There is just a divider on the top. I will give a go with the ceramic. He currently has a 1/2 log on each side for hides which he seems to enjoy.