Heat source poll:

What type of heat source do you run for your ball pythons?

I use both a UTH and lamp, but I just voted for the one that was the most predominant heat source. =P

I vote heat mats or heat tape. I believe belly heat helps aid digestion and it keeps temps and humidity more stable.

Heat rocks should never be used with ball pythons and lamps suck out humidity.

Flexwatt Back Heat, on a T'stat.

I voted heat lamps and UTHs. I have a 20L with two UTHs, along with a CHE, *and* a "night bulb" to maintain temps of ~82F belly cool, 92F belly hot, and 78-88F ambient from one end to the other.

My living room is like a walk-in freezer, hence the multiple heat sources for such a small enclosure.

I use Flexwatt heat tape, with a helix thermostat... :gj:

heat cable

Heat mats and cable

I know polls are limited, but ball pythons really need a source of belly heat to help with digestion. If people are using a heat lamp only for a source I would recommend an underglass heat pad that sticks to the bottem....All heat devices need a t-stat control that keeps them from overheating. Without the control I think eventually things will go bad. Just my opinion:) Good poll!

I disagree with the statement that they need Belly Heat for digestion - I heat both my enclosures with Radiant Heat Panels and both my snakes are doing wonderful - never any health or regurge issues.

Just my thoughts.

I use a heat pad for the warm sides but on the cool sides I use night bulb lamps when its cold enough for the temp to drop below 79 which started today since it got cold here. The humidity in both enclosures still stays between 55-60 so mine doesnt suck out all the humidity.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by L.West

I disagree with the statement that they need Belly Heat for digestion - I heat both my enclosures with Radiant Heat Panels and both my snakes are doing wonderful - never any health or regurge issues.

Just my thoughts.

---

It's not that they "need" belly heat.

I have some on heat tape, others in 82 degree ambient and no hot spot, the ones on heat tape definitely eat more and digest faster.

T-stat with heat cord, belly flexwatt or flexwatt on the back . . . . all depends on what manufacturer I bought the rack from. Now I only order my racks with flexwatt belly heat.

Also, just because you have a T-stat to control the heat doesn't mean things can't go bad. Over the years I've had 3 T-stats go bad and the heat spiked very quickly. It happens. Not often, but I don't want people to think if their set up has a T-stat nothing can go wrong. Now I'm going to go off and cry about the 2 beautiful males I lost when those T-stats failed. :tears:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by L.West

I disagree with the statement that they need Belly Heat for digestion - I heat both my enclosures with Radiant Heat Panels and both my snakes are doing wonderful - never any health or regurge issues.

Just my thoughts.

---

I agree - they don't "need" belly heat to digest, but belly heat certainly aids in digestion.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kysenia

Without the control I think eventually things will go bad. Just my opinion:) Good poll!

---

Things will go BAD! I was at a friends house the other day and he has two Ball Pythons. He is new to Ball Pythons. His setup was basic a 20L, hide spot and a UTH but I did not see any thermostat. I asked him how he is controlling the temps, he said "They control them selves. I am an electrician and know the UTH have a built in temp regulate". I was amazed! I asked him if he had a temp gun and he did. Well we checked the temps and on top of the bedding was fine. I asked him to move the bedding and check the temp right on the surface of the glass and it was 123DEGREES. At this point I raised my voice and told him he needs to get them out of there and go to the store to pick up a thermo now. Wouldn't you know it he had one and was not using it. He did not know that a Ball Python would push the bedding out of the way to get the the heat. He could of had a VERY SERIOUS problem on his hands. ALWAYS USE A THERMOSTAT TO CONTROL YOUR TEMPS WITH ANY KIND OF HEATING ELIMINATE!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jjc

I voted heat lamps and UTHs. I have a 20L with two UTHs, along with a CHE, *and* a "night bulb" to maintain temps of ~82F belly cool, 92F belly hot, and 78-88F ambient from one end to the other.

My living room is like a walk-in freezer, hence the multiple heat sources for such a small enclosure.

---

I too have a 20L with two UTHs and a heat lamp but I am also from the great white north and its gets pretty chilly! I also have a space heater in my snake room to keep the air at 75!

All my snakes are heated with flexwatt and herpstat thermostats.

I've considered trying ulratherms out, but from the look of it, there doesn't seem to be much benefit, they still get too hot to use without a thermostat, and not as customizable as flexwatt.

I have been thinking of just using a Johnson's control thermostat for my new boa instead of getting another herpstat, but with needing to power an incubator I think it'd be simplest to have the incubator have its own thermostat and have the boa and hatchling rack share the herpstat II. My ARS 7030 has just a normal herpstat on it and 6in heat tape.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kysenia

i know polls are limited, but ball pythons really need a source of belly heat to help with digestion. If people are using a heat lamp only for a source i would recommend an underglass heat pad that sticks to the bottem....all heat devices need a t-stat control that keeps them from overheating. Without the control i think eventually things will go bad. Just my opinion:) good poll!

---

+1

Flexwatt belly heat with a Ranco on it's way, r-stat for now.

woops, I voted hot rock, my bad, I meant Lamp... Sorry