Question on buying a "hood" for my BP's terrarium.(Advice please)

I think the sliding hood is very nice (a bit expensive)but will still need wire screen around the bulbs to protect your snake from possible burns.


I have my female BP in a 100 gallon very thick glass fish tank.
there is a 10.5" waterbowl (105 ounces of water) and an 2.5' long arched driftwood she climbs on a lot.
the tank is located in a corner of the bedroom so two sides are against the walls.
I glued 3 hollow XL sized log "hides" together to increase the overall length, then one end is covered with Aspen bedding for privacy and enhanced warmth.
I have owned her since April 2010, however she is 50" long and weighs 5 lbs.
So I am guessing she is 3 years old aproximately.
She came to me in a 45 gallon "critter cage" with a 15 watt under tank heat pad.
The woman that gave her to me did not know the correct species, she told me it was a burmese....
So I am learnimg a lot.....I went to a reptile show to find out she is a BP.

The screened hinged lid is all they sell to fit a 72" by 18" tank, so that is what I have.
I have 4 undertank pads, 24 watts each to maintain temps in high 80's degrees on one end and high 70's at the water bowl.
I have the water bowl/ cool side covered with an old bath towel. (dry, not wet)
I have no heat lights at all, so opening the lid is a breeze.
Now I am reading a lot about how BP's hate large enclosures, However mine seems to cruise around the tank a lot some times she will lay around out of her hollow log hide, she is really comfortable in her tank.
I hope all this information helps, I think 1 overhead inferred heat lamp is enough, no light emission type is best.
even though I have no lamp ( just undertank heating) and my BP is content.
I feed her a large rat every 14 days (may have to extend the timing because she is quite thick bodied)

Harry

Truly, I'm not trying to be argumentative, but I am curious where you have seen this debate about UV light and ball pythons.

Here is a quote from two of the leading scientists in the world of herps:

"Ball pythons have no known light requirements. We have seen what appears to be perfectly healthy ball pythons that have lived for years in dark closets. Cage lighting is primarily for the keeper's enjoyment of his or her charges. In some cases, lighting also can be a satisfactory way to control the temperature in a cage."
Pythons of the World, Vol II: Ball Pythons

About the authors:
David and Tracy Barker are graduate biologists with more than 65 years of combined experience with reptiles and amphibians. They both have expansive herpetological backgrounds, including work in zoo herpetological collections, museum collections, and field research. Herpetoculture is the main interest of this husband and wife team, and their combined interests and experiences range from dart poison frogs to ridgenose rattlesnakes. David and Tracy own and manage Vida Preciosa International, Inc., one of the largest and most successful collections of pythons in the world.

Seriously, no one is trying to be critical or mean. We're just trying to help make things easier for you so in the long run, your snake-keeping experience is as rewarding as it possibly can be. But please understand that no one (that I know of...and I know a lot!) that keeps ball pythons is going to be able to come up with a satisfactory solution that includes UV lighting, simply because no one else considers that a needful factor in their husbandry care. It's kind of like asking folks how to make more room in the trunk of your car because you keep gallons and gallons of spare fuel, motor oil and antifreeze back there in the trunk...just in case you might need it on the road someday. No one is going to have a satisfactory answer to that because no one else is going to such extremes.

But, of course, in the long run, all these are your decisions to make, and I wish you the best of it, whatever you decide to do.

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Originally Posted by Old Sloppy

Now I am reading a lot about how BP's hate large enclosures, However mine seems to cruise around the tank a lot some times she will lay around out of her hollow log hide, she is really comfortable in her tank.

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The fact that ball pythons tend to prefer smaller enclosures over large ones is a general guideline and not a hard-and-fast fact. IF your snake were not thriving and was constantly refusing food or showing other signs of stress, the size of your enclosure might be something you'd want to look into. However, if she is eating well and thriving and you're able to maintain the proper environment in such a large tank, then that is terrific! Yours sounds like a beautiful enclosure. :)

I have never heard of a debate on UV light with ball pythons. They are nocturnal. Nocturnal animals do not require additional or supplemental lighting. (Think about it, where would an animal that is only out at night get its special light?) Animals like bearded dragons obviously need supplemental and special lighting. We know this because they can't properly absorb calcium and other vitamins and minerals when raised without proper lighting. Ball pythons (and other nocturnal critters) do not have this problem.

Balls don't benefit from supplemental lighting and if there is an effect on them it is almost always more harmful than beneficial; stress because of constant light exposure, burns, improper humidity, etc.

Not trying to rock the boat here, just offering my learnings.

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Originally Posted by JLC

Truly, I am curious where you have seen this debate about UV light and ball pythons.

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The guy behind the cash register said so......(He,He,He)
He just wanted me to pry open my wallet a little wider. (He,He,He)

Harry

As previously stated, nocturnal animals do not require UV lighting. If they did, they wouldn't be nocturnal, they would come out during the day. Some captive balls do come out a little in the day, but not in the wild. So I don't really know why you're getting offended, because we do know what we're talking about.

Yea you will hear all types of things when you get any type of reptile. In fact sometimes when we pick up something from someone that is NOT a breeder we ask about husbandry....just because you hear TONS of crazy stuff...lol

Ball pythons natural habitat in Africa is termite mounds....tight dark...great humidity. The hunt at night as well. So not huge fans of bright lights. Now let me be the first to say...there are those weird ones that like to climb limbs.....love to be held etc. Just not typically the norm. But as far as enclosures...they like to feel a little tight in their hides and love the dark...(that is when they are most active).

Now I understand that having one snake you want to see them more often....they do have enclosures that are glass fronts and work really well to hold in the humidity. (without all the extra work to keep it up). Also it might be a good idea to get a couple of things....now this will make you life soooooooooooo much easier and less worry when making sure that your husbandry for your snake is spot on.

flexwatt or a uth.....(snakes digest through belly heat...best and safest way for them)
identical tight fitting hides2 (one on the cool side and one on the warm side)
a thermostat to control the heating device (this you do not want to skimp on and will save you many pieces of hair...lol...) I recommend spyder robotics thermostat but there are many others that are good as well. Without one of these your heating device can shoot up to 160 degrees in some cases. Recipe for disaster....they could burn to death...or overheat and end up with neuro issues.
last but not least a temp gun....not a neccesity but it is nice to have and accurate as all get out.


Most of this stuff you can get through reptilebasics.com if you are unsure you can call Rich (owner) he is amazing and tons of help.

Also you can get the thermostat at spyderrobotics.com



Oh yea.....this is just me but I clean everthing with Chlorohexadine....(reptile basics) it is a disenfectant that is super super good. They actually use this to wash wounds at vets. You dillute it and clean the cage...smells good...safe...sanitary. A bottle of it last forever.

Ok ...I will end the book now. lol:rolleyes: I get what you are saying...there is so much info out though it makes you crazy. I was in your spot just over a year ago. Trust me when I say as far as info and accuracy. To me.....this is one of the best sites and ppl really know their stuff!! (not just saying that cuz Im a mod...lol)




PS- we totally want pics girl!!!

Wow you come on here to ask question, people tell you the answers from YEARS of experience. (some people have 20+ years keeping snakes) And you are telling the BP.net community that we are wrong.
All that is being offered is help whether you like what we have to say or not it's the proper not "proper" way to house your snake.

Just to cover the basics:
Your cage is too big
You don't need a screen hood, a plexiglass sheet cut to size would work
You don't need a heat lamp
Your feeding needs to be every 7 days and a smaller meal
4 UTH can be fixed by insulating the sides of the tank (3 sides need to be covered anyway)
And that is just a few things..........

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Originally Posted by Superpop

I am starting to take a bit of offense to this as my boyfriend and I both feel we have given her a "proper" enclosure.(it's just not ideal for us)

If we put her in a rubbermaid bin or get her a "proper" enclosure.(at least it's proper in your eyes) we can't use a UVB bulb.

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Seriously no one here is attempting to offend you by any means, this is a forum and when you ask a question you will get answers with the methods that others use, and have been using for years. Your main concern is that your animal is eating and thriving in the captivity you have provided, as mentioned some use huge aquariums and their animal thrives but would I say they are best for the majority of BP's out there? Probabley not. Let me correct you quickly if I may, its not whats "proper" in my eyes its what is best for my animals requirements, I mean you are the one debating UVB light fixtures for a nocturnal animal, and how injurious it is to sex your BP. I did'nt just start keeping and breeding reptiles yesterday FYI.

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Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons

Seriously no one here is attempting to offend you by any means, this is a forum and when you ask a question you will get answers with the methods that others use, and have been using for years. Your main concern is that your animal is eating and thriving in the captivity you have provided, as mentioned some use huge aquariums and their animal thrives but would I say they are best for the majority of BP's out there? Probabley not. Let me correct you quickly if I may, its not whats "proper" in my eyes its what is best for my animals requirements, I mean you are the one debating UVB light fixtures for a nocturnal animal, and how injurious it is to sex your BP. I did'nt just start keeping and breeding reptiles yesterday that was over 20 years ago FYI.

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