New Owner

It's a HUGE deal. Proper temperatures are the single most important thing about ball python husbandry.

If you haven't already, get an under tank heater and a thermostat. These keep the temperatures correct without removing all the humidity like a lamp does.

proper temps/gradient to bp's are vital to keep them feeding and no RI's. it is one of the most critical things to get and keep correct to have success with these pythons. the proper heating setup is a must imo!


vaughn

Fluctuating temps can also at times cause stress that leads to refusal of food. Not a good idea.

-adam

I have an under the cage heat pad. the cool side is always at 84-85 and it never changes. as it sits right now with the light off the warm side is at 85, the hide on the warm side is at 88.

I don't know what I can get to make the warm side stay warm at night.

I'm wondering if I replaced the bulb to something to that I can leave on all the time but won't disrupt her day/night cycle. I have no idea what this would be though...infared? can she see that?

You could use an infrared bulb, 24/7. The only downside to that, is that you'll have to watch and tweak the humidity.

I'm really concerned, I've only had her since thursday, she's active, and is healthy but I just want to make sure everything is perfect.


what are my options for heating that side of the cage. She is in my room so having a light on 24/7 would not be ideal but I would deal with it.

Infared bulbs have a low red glow to them....I sleep in a room with 3 of them running every night, no problem. You can use ceramic heat emitters, which are a ceramic bulb that fits into a regular incandescant fixture, and gives off no light, and radiates heat downward. The drawback to those is that they get hot as nuts and need to be controlled by a dimmer or tstat(better choice). The advantage of CHEs is that they last FOREVER. Bulbs burn out every 6 months or so.

that would seem to solve my problem. I can get those ceramic bulbs at a pet store. (I think I've seen them b4 but wasn't sure what they did). So that would replace the incandescent bulb I have in the fixture above the cage. Do I have to have some sort of white light? I do have a window in my room so i get some decent light.

http://www.exo-terra.com/EN/products...ve_lamp_i.html

I found this! Now what wattage shoudl I get? keeping in mind I'll be buying something to regulate the heat

oh and any recommendations on a thermostat or dimmer? how do I install one of those



sorry for too many q's guys. just trying to know it all. don't do it for me, do it for Carmen

thx