New ball python owner With questions!!

Hi there - congrats on your new addition!

It might be that you will end up using both the lamp and the heat pad. Lights are good for increasing the overall temperature of the aquarium when the room it's in stays cooler than the temperatures ball pythons prefer (around 80°, give or take a couple of degrees). Heat pads are good for creating an isolated warm spot on the very bottom of the aquarium (around 90°, give or take a couple of degrees) so that the BP has a temperature gradient in which to choose from in which to thermoregulate themselves properly.

If I were you, I wouldn't bother with the reptile carpet. They are infamous for being bacteria breeding grounds and are impossible to keep as clean as they need to be - especially when buried underneath other substrate.

As others have said, I would look into the digital temp/humidity gauges. Here's one that is commonly used in the hobby - you might even be able to find it at Walmart or somewhere similar to that: http://www.acurite.com/environments/...r-00891a2.html.

Also, as others have said, heat pads need to be controlled by a thermostat. Here is an inexpensive option: https://www.hydrofarm.com/p/MTPRTC. Here are much better options: http://www.spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html.

Left to their own devices, heat pads will easily generate temperatures of well over 100° on the glass above them which is incredibly dangerous for the BP in that enclosure. BPs can, and WILL, find a way to lay directly on the floor of the aquarium regardless of how much stuff starts off between the two. Your goal is to ensure that when they do this, they are still safe. Basically, you make sure the glass temperature above the heat pad never gets above the 90° range and then only put a thin layer of substrate on top of it. Simple as that. :)

Last, but certainly not least, here are two awesome links that I think you'll find very helpful. Enjoy the reads!

• Ball Python (Python regius) Caresheet - http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet
• How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures! - http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...With-Pictures!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns with the above information, please feel free to let us know. Welcome to the community!

Best regards,
Eric

PetCo and PetSmart have basic care sheets and that's what I go off of. 85-90 on hot side and 75-80 on cold side, 45-65% humidity.

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I would suggest you check out this set up thread for glass tanks since that sounds like what you are using - http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...With-Pictures! Edit: Eric beat me to it! :(

It shows exactly how to set up your tank as well as links to the products used in the tutorial. You don't have to have a heat lamp (which actually lowers your humidity) or a ceramic heat emitter unless you're having issues keeping ambient at a comfortable temperature.

Frosty is right, if a bit blunt ;) The UTH needs to be regulated! I have a Spinner Blast that LOVES going under his substrate. He scared the crap out of me the other day because I didn't see him, so lifted up his hide and still didn't see him. I thought he had gotten out for a couple seconds until I realized he had gone under the substrate under his hide. The Hydrofarm on Amazon is one of the cheaper ones you'll find that is still reliable. You have to realize the UTHs can get up to 120°, heating up the bottom of the tank more than enough to give a snake a serious burn. The temperature probe from your thermometer needs to be under the substrate right above the UTH so you can keep the temperature at that level low enough to not burn if your snake decides to go spelunking. As a temporary fix (TEMPORARY, you still need to get a thermostat), I would suggest a dimmer switch from Lowes or Home Depot until you can order one and get it shipped in. Aaaand I can't seem to find it right now, but I'm sure any second now someone will jump in with the diagram on probe placement...
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Originally Posted by locolobito

PetCo and PetSmart have basic care sheets and that's what I go off of. 85-90 on hot side and 75-80 on cold side, 45-65% humidity.

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When I went in to buy a UTH, PetSmart told me I shouldn't let my BP get over 75°. I wouldn't trust those people with a dead gold fish.

I just use care sheets from both places. Other than that I won't take advise from them cause they can not take care of the animals that sell.

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Originally Posted by SmoothScales

When I went in to buy a UTH, PetSmart told me I shouldn't let my BP get over 75°. I wouldn't trust those people with a dead gold fish.

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:O Geez! Petsmart is good for honoring competitor coupons, but that's about it. If I need cheap supplies I'll swing by there. If I have ANY questions about my babies, I come here!

Everyone seems to have covered everything, bit just a suggestion for the thermostat (I didn't use one for a while and believe me they are necessary if you want to avoid overheating) I have the reptitemp 500r from zoo med. they're only about $35, and they do work well, but you have to have a digital probe thermometer in order to set it to the right temp. I suggest the cheap zoo med digital ones for that. Honestly, for a hygrometer, I think the analog ones work just fine. For my 10 gallon, I place the UTH on one side regulated by a thermostat and a 40 watt heat bulb on the top, that way ambient temperatures get to the low 80s and the hot spot is 90. Hope that helps

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Congrats and Welcome to BP it's hard like you say you read so many conflicts its nuts but your here now and we will give our best shot at helping you. You have been pointed in the right direction the care sheets here which are tried and true I know that I learned alot from them their is also a cool post on setting up your tank the right way. I use a little moss in the hideout and I spray it every day along with a few squirts on the substrate my Ball and Blood Pythons need that moisture. Just a tip from me I have the hardest time getting a 10 gallon regulated If you could a 20 would be better and if not now maybe down the road. I will say alwsys use a thermostat for the under tank heaters its very Important. ....


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I personally hate heat mats, they don't stick well, they overheat, and only heat one portion of the tank. I like ceramic heat emitters for my ball python. It heats the entire cage, doesn't give off any stressful light, and has proven to be reliable. Either way, you will still need to regulate the temps, ceramic heat emitters and heat mats can both get dangerously hot! When I first joined this forum, I didn't believe anyone when they told me how hot the mat could get. Then I took the temps and the mat was 120f, so be careful!! Btw, if sticking with heat mats go with the exo terra brand over the zoo med. much more reliable.


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