Son getting ball python. Cage setup help please

By dimmer do you mean a thermostat? or just a dimmer type switch? You can use a bedding to help raise humidity like cyprus. The aspen bedding is more like to mold pretty fast and doesnt hold up to frequent sprayings like the cyprus does. Most people just use a thick layer of paper towles and mist it down every day. The filled water bowl should help humidity. Covering the lid most of the way will also help. Get some little feet or those plastic chair risers under the tank to hold it up off the table and off the UTH cord. If its actually too hot this will help some heat escape and will save your table from cracking because of the high heat.

Having humidity too low is a big cause of RI in ball pythons so its very important.

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

Well when i used just a UTH i cant get the temp of the cage to go past 75 deg. So thats when i tried the heat lamp and it went into like 90-100. for the cage temp.

Also as for substrate idk. I hear eco earth or Repti Bark is good. Or a 50/50 mixture of both. Something that would raise the humidity seeing as its lacking in the room period.

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Get a lower wattage bulb. You can even use just a regular 60 watt household bulb. They put off alot of heat. Just remember to plug it into a timer or turn it off in the evening. Try to keep the amount of light they get to match the sun. When you have the extra $$ try to find a low wattage ceramic heat emitter bulb. They put off no light. Just heat. They last forever. Up to 2 years or so if not jarred around and turned on/off all the time. I have one Ive been using with a spare tank for over a year now and its going strong.

What about if i got a 75W infrared bulb? I seen em at petsmart would that be good? I hear if u get that you will not have to turn it off in the evenings? Also and by dimmer i mean just a dimmer type switch for the time being.

When you say "try to find a low wattage ceramic heat emitter bulb" what wattage we talking? Im sure i could pick one up if it would work better then the infrared bulbs. But i got one lamp so would that bet better off then the infrared bulb?

Hmm i see the ceramic heat bulbs are like $40. Should i just pick up a 75W infrared bulb for now then get one of them later? Also as for substrate what should i get?? Is repti bark or eco earth good?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

Well when i used just a UTH i cant get the temp of the cage to go past 75 deg. So thats when i tried the heat lamp and it went into like 90-100. for the cage temp.

Also as for substrate idk. I hear eco earth or Repti Bark is good. Or a 50/50 mixture of both. Something that would raise the humidity seeing as its lacking in the room period.

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The UTH only heats the bottom surface on the tank and only raises the tank temp a few degrees. The problem with the flukers is the placement in the tank. The snake will never be at the top of the tank so you shouldn't measure temps there. Also, you need a digital thermometer with a probe to measure the temp right on the class where the UTH is. The Accurite has this. It is about $12 at the home depot, lowes, and walmart.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

The UTH only heats the bottom surface on the tank and only raises the tank temp a few degrees. The problem with the flukers is the placement in the tank. The snake will never be at the top of the tank so you shouldn't measure temps there. Also, you need a digital thermometer with a probe to measure the temp right on the class where the UTH is. The Accurite has this. It is about $12 at the home depot, lowes, and walmart.

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I will pick one of them up tomorrow to measure the UTH. What temp should the UTH be at??

Also where should i put the flukers at? Its currently at the top left. Im sure i could move it to where it would be better suited. Also if u were to use any sort of lamp is it better to leave the lamp over the UTH or put the UTH on one side and the lamp on the other?

Also any suggestions on substrate?

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

I will pick one of them up tomorrow to measure the UTH. What temp should the UTH be at??

Also where should i put the flukers at? Its currently at the top left. Im sure i could move it to where it would be better suited. Also if u were to use any sort of lamp is it better to leave the lamp over the UTH or put the UTH on one side and the lamp on the other?

Also any suggestions on substrate?

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UTh should be no hotter than 95*F. I shoot for 90-92*F.

I would move the flukers to an inch or two above the bottom of the tank on the hot side. You can then put the accurite unit on the cool side to get temps and humidity over there.

A lamp should only be used if the air temps are below 75*F. If they are low, get a low wattage light and place it over the cool side (side opposite the UTH). That way the lamp doesn't suck too much humidity and help bring up ambient temps.

I personally use paper towels with all my animals. Works just fine :)

okkk :)

Kaorte is right. If you cover the tank and can keep your air temp in the tank right then you dont need a lamp. If you do need a lamp the black or red "night" bulbs from the pet store are good so you dont need to turn them off but they dont last very long. Pick up a spare for when the one you have burns out. Thats why I brought up the ceramic heat emitters. Yes they are expensive but if it is needed to keep the temps up it is well worth it in the long run. Think about that $40.00 for a bulb lasting you well over a year or so (cheaper on ebay). Add up the cost of about 4 to 6 infrared bulbs for a year.

Lamps are not preferred but if needed its the cheapest way to go in the long run. First try covering the top of the tank with foil or place mats or something to keep heat in. See how that works. Check the DIY (do it yourself) threads here and the husbandry threads to get more ideas.

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

Kaorte is right. If you cover the tank and can keep your air temp in the tank right then you dont need a lamp. If you do need a lamp the black or red "night" bulbs from the pet store are good so you dont need to turn them off but they dont last very long. Pick up a spare for when the one you have burns out. Thats why I brought up the ceramic heat emitters. Yes they are expensive but if it is needed to keep the temps up it is well worth it in the long run. Think about that $40.00 for a bulb lasting you well over a year or so (cheaper on ebay). Add up the cost of about 4 to 6 infrared bulbs for a year.

Lamps are not preferred but if needed its the cheapest way to go in the long run. First try covering the top of the tank with foil or place mats or something to keep heat in. See how that works. Check the DIY (do it yourself) threads here and the husbandry threads to get more ideas.

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ok i will also be going to pick up some substrate im thinking eco earth to help the humidity or aspen. Good or No?

Also rather i use the lamp or not will depend on how the cage is with some sort of substrate in it

I personally don't like eco earth because it is basically dirt and is a nightmare to clean. But if you are having humidity issues, go for it.