Question about heating (just getting started)

Hey everyone,

I just have a couple questions about setting up my baby Ball Python's tank. I just purchased her yesterday, and she is only 2 and a half months old. As you can see from my picture below, she is in a 40 gallon tank, and I only have one 75W light on it. Now from doing some research on the internet, I'm under the impression that I need another light (for night time), and some sort of under-tank heating pad. My question is: is it absolutely necessary that I get these things right away? If these are things that are crucial to my snake's health, then I will go out and purchase them ASAP...I just want to make sure that I'm not hurting her by only having one light at the moment. Also, is 75W enough for a 40 gal tank? The pet store told me it's fine, but it seems like there are a vast variety of opinions out there. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Here is my current setup. Feel free to make any suggestions!

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0515002b.jpg

If you are able to keep temperatures proper with just a lamp, that would be fine.

Ambient: 79-81
Cool: 79-81
Hot: 89-91

A under tank heater works well because ball pythons use heat to digest their food. If you use one you must have a THERMOSTAT to regulate the heat it emits. UTH do not change ambient temperatures and is used to create the hot spot.

As for the lamp, buy an infrared one. That way you can leave it on without disrupting your Bp. Heat lamps are rarely used because they destroy humidity which is hard enough to try and maintain using a tank.

Your setup looks good, although of recommend getting another hide. It's a good idea to have matching hides on the cool and hot side so your snake can thermoregulate.

Checkout this thread, it goes over cage heating in detail:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers

Your snake needs heat 24/7 (90 degrees F on the hot side 80 degrees F on the cool side) I would suggest getting an infrared heat bulb as they can be used 24/7. White heat bulbs stress BP's out and shouldn't be used at night.

Here is a good infrared heat bulb: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=11147193

The rest is covered in the thread I linked above. If you have any questions feel free to ask!

thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it.

Aaron, that guide you wrote was extremely helpful, I feel like I have a much better understanding of how heating works. I'm probably going to return the white light and replace it with an infrared light. But in the meantime, will the white light be okay? I mean like will it be okay for a day or two? (I might not be able to get to PetSmart until tomorrow or the next day)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skywalker134

thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it.

Aaron, that guide you wrote was extremely helpful, I feel like I have a much better understanding of how heating works. I'm probably going to return the white light and replace it with an infrared light. But in the meantime, will the white light be okay? I mean like will it be okay for a day or two? (I might not be able to get to PetSmart until tomorrow or the next day)

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Yes it will be fine for a day or so. I would even leave it on at night (heat is more important than potentially stressing your snake) But I would replace it as soon as possible.

okay, I will replace it as soon as possible. I have her tank in my bedroom right now and it's pretty hard to sleep with the white light on anyways, so the infrared would be ideal. I'm also going to check out some under-tank heaters, and I'll probably buy that thermometer from Wal-Mart.

Seeing that you are in Canada this thread might be helpful (some parts of Canada seem to have the acu-rites but others don't)

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...te#post1936778

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skywalker134

okay, I will replace it as soon as possible. I have her tank in my bedroom right now and it's pretty hard to sleep with the white light on anyways, so the infrared would be ideal. I'm also going to check out some under-tank heaters, and I'll probably buy that thermometer from Wal-Mart.

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Please don't forget the thermostat as well if you get a UTH :)

And yes, you'll find it much easier to sleep with the red light :p it's kinda relaxin to look at too!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Seeing that you are in Canada this thread might be helpful (some parts of Canada seem to have the acu-rites but others don't)

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...te#post1936778

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LOL yes!
I got quoted xD

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

LOL yes!
I got quoted xD

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I can't even tell you how many PM's I've gotten from Canadian forum members asking for alternatives to the Acu-Rite in Canada... and seeing how I live about as far away from Canada as physically possible in the Continental US I never could give an answer lol.

thanks guys, really do feel alot better now...I was seriously worried that I wasn't doing things properly. I only want the best for my Python!

Truthfully and this might hurt...... Go buy a Snake rack haha!!!

I know a aquarium is nice to display your new friend but trust me tubs are just so much easier!!!

and you will have more then one anyways!

Trust me lol I had 1 BP in May, now its October and I have 9 :rolleye2:

I have hook ups too if you even need help with anything!

But really What I have is a 11 slot rack, 11" flex watt heating on one side on every tier, all wired up to 1 plug, have that plugged into a digital thermostat boom heatings done.

put paper towel down for bedding, throw in 2 hides, one on each end and a water bowl over the heat tape and presto! Perfect houses for ball pythons!

a 3 slot rack would be a perfect beginners rack!!! HINT HINT!! LOL

I'm a student at the moment, so I'll probably be sticking to one for now...but I'll keep that in mind for the future! haha

xD I'm a student at the moment as well, but similarly to reptiliachnids, I got my first BP the last week of May, and got numbers 10 and 11 today (Yay Repticon Dallas!), and we also plan on picking up AT LEAST one more by the end of the year. They're so affordable, you just can't stop!

I personally don't like accurites they are no better than most of the other cheap digitals on the market and are over priced for what they are. The problem especially with people whom decided to use hydrofarm T-stats is they are so inaccurate that having a reasonably accurate thermometer is paramount. (I have hydrofarms over 4ºF from correct) I personally would NOT recommend them accept as a fail safe. Ranco or Johnson or VE100 if you must go on off but the base herpstat is so close it is silly to save 25$ on a ranco. I would suggest that multiple thermometers are needed (3 min and 5+ is better) they can be checked against each other and the incorrect ones discarded.

I like the ESU thermometers that you can often find on ebay for 3$ They are 'cheap as chips' and if you buy as many as the cost of one accurite you get 3-5 in the us but here you get end up with a lot more units and in my experience 2-3 will be off the rest basically the same.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Digital-Water...ht_2971wt_1165
or
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Mini-Digital-...ht_4141wt_1398

The second ones also are hygrometers they are fine too I don't trust digital hygrometers to be correct for long so I have some but tend not to trust them. This unit is ONLY metric that isn't a big problem for me as I know both by heart.

My choice of hygrometers are these

http://www.amazon.ca/Brass-Analog-Hy...0221116&sr=8-4

They have a metal face card (unlike pet store ones) and are calibratable a simple 'salt test' can verify the accuracy and correct it if needed. Out of the box the 20 or so I own all were in 3%rh as the test is only good for 1% accuracy that is very good. The three accurites out of the box the best was 7% and the worst was 20 something off. I think I paid 45$ for the accurite here I returned it (back to cheney) got a replacement paid duty and it too was beyond the allowable specs, returned it (paid shipping) and got a third was just inside the 20% up or down RH and 2ºF up or down so I ended up giving it to my father.

I just got my Bp last monday. And im already pricing new ones I want I bet I have another by the first of the year HAHA