heating

the last few days my ball pythons cage has been really cold. I use a 75 watt red light at night but when the light isn't on the temp drops to 65 or 70. How can I keep it warmer? And also, he hasn't pooped in a while... does that have anything to do with his temp being to low?

i think a heat mat with a thermostat would be a good idea. they poop like once every week or two...whens the last time yours pooped?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by reptile_lover07

the last few days my ball pythons cage has been really cold. I use a 75 watt red light at night but when the light isn't on the temp drops to 65 or 70. How can I keep it warmer? And also, he hasn't pooped in a while... does that have anything to do with his temp being to low?

---

If the temp drops when the light isn't on....then why not just turn it on??? What are the temps while the light is on? How are you measuring those temps? 65-70 is far too cold and if it continues too long may very well lead to a very sick snake.

Consistently low temps may lead to a drastic slow-down in their already slow metabolism, and that could lead to a long stretch between poops. But even healthy snakes kept at the proper temps can go for weeks without defecating.

I have one. And he hasn't pooped in almost a month

When it's on the temps are 80-90.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by reptile_lover07

When it's on the temps are 80-90.

---

Then why not just leave it on all the time? Why turn it off and allow the temps to drop to such dangerous levels?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by reptile_lover07

And he hasn't pooped in almost a month

---

how long was it that he last ate? becouse from my educated guess they wont poop unless they have eaten due to not having anything to pass.

They also require belly heat to aid in digestion. If the temps are that cool, he's not digesting properly, so it's no surprise he hasn't defecated.


You need a UTH on a thermostat on at all times, and you need to keep your cool side temps no lower than 80 (24 hours a day) and the warm side no lower than 90 (24 hours a day).

As has already been asked - what do you use to measure your temperatures?

I have a UTH. and I have a digital thermometer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by reptile_lover07

When it's on the temps are 80-90.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JLC

Then why not just leave it on all the time? Why turn it off and allow the temps to drop to such dangerous levels?

---

I'm still confused.