:( Major temp probs...

It's good that you are concerned about the health and well being of your ball python. We hear about so many that get a snake and don't have any idea or care about what to do.


I do understand your concern about the cool side, but until you move, let me share some practices down here that may reassure you. Several breeders I know here in Florida keep their snakes with no heat and no air conditioning. They allow the ambient temps and humidity to rule. Yes, I'm talking about well established, well respected breeders that keep hundreds of ball pythons. This time of year, it is usually over 90 every day with between 85-100% humidity. There is essentially no cool side. Their ball pythons thrive.

Seeing my electric bill last month made me start thinking about how I could use the outside temps to heat these days.

Good luck!

Well thanks :) I don't believe in owning pets that you aren't prepared to give what they need - if you can't supply what they need you shouldn't have them!

Our electrical bills are already insane - its part of the reason why we're moving!! That and the heat, and the heating bills in the winter, and the messy roommate, and the cat I'm allergic to... But I'm going to use "we need A/C for the snake as my 'official' excuse!

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,


Bearhart,

Actually I wouldn't put an airstone in the waterbowl as the vibrations could stress the snake - be we do have a sticky on an alternative that avoids that possibility.

Adri,

I asked what was controling the UTH because , if it was on a good theremostat then it would only turn on when required and turn off when it got to hot - and if you got a proportional thermostat ( like a helix) then it would run it at a lower voltage. This would give you more control than switching it on for 5 minutes as this gives you a false idea of what can be done.

How common is the 90 degree heat you are presently suffering?

Is there a big seasonal swing in the house and if so what are the low/highs?

This information will help people try and design a year round heating system for your tank to make sure it keeps your little guy happy.


dr del

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I see your concern. Bubbles do generate fairly bassy sounds. But, I would think that could be alleviated by getting a very fine stone. (This was actually what I was thinking of but I didn't specify it) The very fine pumice stones produce a fizz rather than a series of bubbles.

My motivation for suggesting the idea was more to take advantage of the evaporative cooling effect that would occur inside the cage. This effect might be as good in the solution you suggested, provided that the hose on the exhaust side was kept as short as possible and/or insulated.

Hi,


It has to be said cooling down is a heck of a lot harder to do on a cage by cage basis than almost anything else I can think of.:(


dr del

Yeah definately cooling down = lots of headaches!!


*However* I have made some headway!!! I went to home depot and asked about different types of light bulbs and what give off the least amount of actual heat... Spent 15$ on a light bulb for the overhead light in the room and it's a little darker, but much cooler after just one night :) And it's been about 20 degrees hotter today than any other day this week!!!

Now if only I could suggest that to all the people I had to talk to on the phone today at work who went heat crazy I'd be happy.

Time to start over again with the temp measuring, but I've got lots of time now... I had a disagreement with the owner of the only exotic pet store in town ('specializes' in captive bred reptiles) because he didn't want to let me know what the weight's/ages/feeding responses had been like for the females he has in stock, outright refused to give me any information about where they came from or who'd bred them and would not garentee that I would receive a healthy animal.

I decided to drive the extra 35 minutes, wait the extra week and get one from another family owned breeder who comes highly recommended from everyone I know... They may be almost twice the price, but they at least are willing to answer questions and are concerned about the homes their animals end up in. They've even sent me photos of the mother and offered to let me see her and the father when I go in as well as send photos of the baby's development since hatching - health garentee for 30 days after.

*IMHO This other guy is worse than pet smart because he should *completely* know better than just being a big heartless chain store*

Oh, excessive misting every 2 hours has also been helping bunches:) I'm going to add a humidity hide as well, and see if the 20 days that we'll be in this house can be okay with just the very small variation, lots of humidity and the humidity hide.

Still welcome to any other suggestions anyone can think of!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GirDance

Yeah definately cooling down = lots of headaches!!


*However* I have made some headway!!! I went to home depot and asked about different types of light bulbs and what give off the least amount of actual heat... Spent 15$ on a light bulb for the overhead light in the room and it's a little darker, but much cooler after just one night :) And it's been about 20 degrees hotter today than any other day this week!!!

Now if only I could suggest that to all the people I had to talk to on the phone today at work who went heat crazy I'd be happy.

Time to start over again with the temp measuring, but I've got lots of time now... I had a disagreement with the owner of the only exotic pet store in town ('specializes' in captive bred reptiles) because he didn't want to let me know what the weight's/ages/feeding responses had been like for the females he has in stock, outright refused to give me any information about where they came from or who'd bred them and would not garentee that I would receive a healthy animal.

I decided to drive the extra 35 minutes, wait the extra week and get one from another family owned breeder who comes highly recommended from everyone I know... They may be almost twice the price, but they at least are willing to answer questions and are concerned about the homes their animals end up in. They've even sent me photos of the mother and offered to let me see her and the father when I go in as well as send photos of the baby's development since hatching - health garentee for 30 days after.

*IMHO This other guy is worse than pet smart because he should *completely* know better than just being a big heartless chain store*

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You certainly made the right decision about that first place. Was he trying to avoid telling you they were recent imports perhaps? When a supplier/breeder refuses the information you have every right to know then walk...heck run...the other way. They are likely trying to hide something or can't be bothered to keep proper records on their snakes.

As for a cooling system... I had an idea, but I'm not sure if it will be economical or work! It's basically comparable to the under tile water heating units... Buying some plastic tubing and a water pump, weaving the tubing into a kind of matt and then attaching along one half the bottom and side of the rack.

Option 1: have both ends going into a reservoir of cold water-the pump would circulate the cool water through the tubing from the water source and then back to it - we'd have to change out the water or add ice to it periodically.

Option 2: Another idea would be to have the tubing connect to a water cooler with temperature control - and then filter back into the jug through the top of the water cooler...

Option 1 = really cheap, but a lot of close monitoring... Option 2 = probably around 100 or so, not too too bad... Plus, in the winter if we get the kind of water cooler that has a cold, room temp and hot tap that could be used to add extra heat.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

You certainly made the right decision about that first place.

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Well, he's either just really lazy or is trying to not tell me *anything* at all! I hooked up the thermostat out of interest the other night... and it's broken so I need a new one... One of the questions I was trying to get an answer out of him was if he had any in stock. I emailed him last week about his animals and he blew me off, so then I called in yesterday because I need a new thermostat - I asked about the thermostat first and he said he didn't know what he had in stock and I would have to come in and look. When I asked if he'd be willing to order one in he got snippy with me and said no. We got to the snakes and all he would tell me was that he had Balls in stock and couldn't garentee sex because it is too hard to determine weight because he doesn't weight them, or health because customers can kill their pets off so easily.

The other place has yet to return my last email, but they're closed Mon-Wed... They post up pictures of all the parents and garentee that you can see them - and all their other stock - when you come in. They garentee health, and will help out with any health problems or treatments that your reptile may have over the years... They've even helped my other friend with their rescued snakes (one has mouth rott, the other had burns that needed to be treated). Hopefully they have good proportional T-Stats in stock, my old one was an on-off type and now doesn't work at all - but I've been assured if they don't they'll order one.