humidity and temp.

ho guys I just recently purchased a ball python and am curious of a good humidity and temp for them. right now his temp is 80 degrees and the humidity is about 37%, is that good? and also what's the purpose of spraying them with water. Im completely new to this so all info in greatly appreciated.

The humidity is close. I usually like 45% or so and during sheds all the way to 60%. Is 80 your ambient or hot spot?

Welcome to the site!

The hot side of the cage should be between 88-92 degrees F
The cool side of the cage should be between 78-82 degrees F
No part of the cage should get above 95 or below 75 F

The cage should be between 40%-60% humidity normally, and between 60% and 80% during shed.

The purpose of misting the cage is to raise the humidity.

What size/type of cage do you have?
What are you using to heat the cage?
What are you using to measure temperatures/humidity?

Here are some good threads to get you started:

Care: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

Cage Setup: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...With-Pictures!

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

^^^^what he said ^^^

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What she said that he said ^^^^^

Crazy monkey,I was about to post the exact same thing as you..

Well its a baby so I have a 10 gallon tank for it. I bought one of those zilla basic tropical kits with a 5.5 light dome that is powered by a day blue light bulb. it also has a heating pad as well, I have the heating on the outside bottom center of the cage. the temp gauge sticks to the cage itself. so im suppose to have one side heated and the other not?

Yes the mat should be on one side... not the middle

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrht07

Well its a baby so I have a 10 gallon tank for it. I bought one of those zilla basic tropical kits with a 5.5 light dome that is powered by a day blue light bulb. it also has a heating pad as well, I have the heating on the outside bottom center of the cage. the temp gauge sticks to the cage itself. so im suppose to have one side heated and the other not?

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Your snake needs to be able to regulate its temperature. One side of the cage needs to be warmer than the other.

Please read through the threads I linked to in my previous post, they explain everything you need to know in detail.

Heating pads don't heat the air in the cage, they only heat surfaces.This means that you need to have a probed thermometer to measure it's temperature. This is very important because heating pads can (and will) get hot enough to seriously burn your snake (130 F+) You need to know how hot your heating pad is, and you need to be able to control it. To do that you will need to get a thermostat as well.

Probed thermometer available at walmart for $12

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...3.jpg~original

Good thermostats (stay away from the junk sold in pet stores)

Budget: http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S

Mid-Range: http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermos...stat-prewired/

Best: http://www.spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html

I am pretty new in the hobby, and i have a question, and i hoping you guys can help me out? I recently got a new plastic hide that looks like a rock for the hot side of the cage, and I have a 50 watt red night bulb, over the rock. I measured the temp with my digital thermometer, and it read 105 degrees on top of the rock. Is that too hot? Will my snake burn himself? Or will they move if it gets too hot? i have a heating pad under the hot side too? I think i only need a temp of 84-90 degrees, on the hot side, so i was thinking about putting my 5.0 UVB bulb on the hot side instead of the red bulb? Will that raise the temp at all? because i only need a few more degrees, the heating pad by itself i dont think is enough?? PLEASE HELP SOMEONE!!

THANKS, PATRICK

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ballpythonkeeper

I am pretty new in the hobby, and i have a question, and i hoping you guys can help me out? I recently got a new plastic hide that looks like a rock for the hot side of the cage, and I have a 50 watt red night bulb, over the rock. I measured the temp with my digital thermometer, and it read 105 degrees on top of the rock. Is that too hot? Will my snake burn himself? Or will they move if it gets too hot? i have a heating pad under the hot side too? I think i only need a temp of 84-90 degrees, on the hot side, so i was thinking about putting my 5.0 UVB bulb on the hot side instead of the red bulb? Will that raise the temp at all? because i only need a few more degrees, the heating pad by itself i dont think is enough?? PLEASE HELP SOMEONE!!

THANKS, PATRICK

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What's the temp of the hot spot created by the under tank heater? Either way I would not let any cage furniture hit above 95F for safety's sake. UVB lights put out very little heat and the brightness can stress some specimens.

Get a light dimmer at home depot for your heat bulb, you can control the output.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Physician&Snakes

What's the temp of the hot spot created by the under tank heater? Either way I would not let any cage furniture hit above 95F for safety's sake. UVB lights put out very little heat and the brightness can stress some specimens.

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I just use regular heat bulbs..BP s don't need UV,let alone UVBS let off just about no heat at all.but Bps they hide all day...there nocturnal.

yes ,where you place the UTH mat is what is considered the hot spot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899

I just use regular heat bulbs..BP s don't need UV,let alone UVBS let off just about no heat at all.but Bps they hide all day...there nocturnal.

yes ,where you place the UTH mat is what is considered the hot spot.

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Lol, read my my first question to the poster again. I think we all know that Python regius has no need for UVB light in captivity due to mammalian vertebrate prey already having fully synthesized calcium to be used by the consumer; however, he/she inquired as to whether or not it would alleviate the heating issue, which, once again, it will do very little if anything at all.

Thanks for your help, what wattage bulb should i get instead? without the over the tank light on it is about 76 degrees. i justt need a little more heat then the UVB is giving out, but i dont want too much heat, I just want the hot side to get to 90 degrees, what kind of bulb should i get>??

Thanks for your help, Patrick

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ballpythonkeeper

Thanks for your help, what wattage bulb should i get instead? without the over the tank light on it is about 76 degrees. i justt need a little more heat then the UVB is giving out, but i dont want too much heat, I just want the hot side to get to 90 degrees, what kind of bulb should i get>??

Thanks for your help, Patrick

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If you're ambient room temp is ~70F then and if the cage is a standard 10-gallon, plus if a 50 watt blue (was that it?) did not work then I would guess a 50-75 watt spot infrared...it's been awhile since I have heated 10 gallons with bulbs though.

when I mist the cage do I just spray walls of the cage or everything including the snake? and I have a piece in his cage for him to hide in should it be on the heated side or cool side?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrht07

when I mist the cage do I just spray walls of the cage or everything including the snake? and I have a piece in his cage for him to hide in should it be on the heated side or cool side?

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Spray the substrate. You can mist the snake too, but he won't enjoy it.
I personally always just mist around the snake.

The hide should typically be on the hot side if you only have one.
If you have two, you can place one hide on both the hot and cold side.

don't laugh at me but by substrate you mean the bottom of the cage right?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrht07

don't laugh at me but by substrate you mean the bottom of the cage right?

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Substrate=bedding.

lol thanks guys

another question guys i have to heat sources. a UTH and a day blue light bulb. I always have both of them on. is this ok to do? or should i only use one heat source?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrht07

another question guys i have to heat sources. a UTH and a day blue light bulb. I always have both of them on. is this ok to do? or should i only use one heat source?

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It's fine to have more than one heat source. The purpose is to achieve the correct temperatures and if it takes two heat sources, then that's fine.
If your temps are fine without the bulb, then I would just stick to the UTH. Bulbs just make it harder to retain humidity.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by satomi325

It's fine to have more than one heat source. The purpose is to achieve the correct temperatures and if it takes two heat sources, then that's fine.
If your temps are fine without the bulb, then I would just stick to the UTH. Bulbs just make it harder to retain humidity.

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I have someone on this forum following me around constantly stating I don't need both,yet both work for me and my set up is fine..I've found ways to maintain good humidity as well and that's with a heat bulb and UTH

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899

I have someone on this forum following me around constantly stating I don't need both,yet both work for me and my set up is fine..I've found ways to maintain good humidity as well and that's with a heat bulb and UTH

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Lol really?
That's rather annoying. They should understand that people can use both and both can work well to maintain heat.

It really doesn't matter if you use just the UTH or both the UTH+bulb as long as you can achieve the proper temps.
However, if you are able achieve those temps with just the UTH, then I always encourage sticking to that only. I find that adding the bulbs just adds unnecessary work to maintain humidity.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrht07

another question guys i have to heat sources. a UTH and a day blue light bulb. I always have both of them on. is this ok to do? or should i only use one heat source?

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You also don't want to run the daylight bulb 24/7. You should try to mimic a natural light cycle with it. No more than 6-8 hours a day. I use an infrared bulb so that it can run 24/7 without bothering my BP. Unfortunately, as was stated, this demolishes the tanks humidity.. But thats just another thing to work around :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by satomi325

Lol really?
That's rather annoying. They should understand that people can use both and both can work well to maintain heat.

It really doesn't matter if you use just the UTH or both the UTH+bulb as long as you can achieve the proper temps.
However, if you are able achieve those temps with just the UTH, then I always encourage sticking to that only. I find that adding the bulbs just adds unnecessary work to maintain humidity.

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Yes,Crazy Monkee,is like stalking my posts,lol,it's creeping me out and she/he is persistent on telling me I don't need both,has told me atleast 5 times when ever I post I have both,yet I still have both,lol,so apparently I am not listening to her amateur advice.

yes the bulbs def do,but especially being I don't have a rack set up or a small tank,but a larger 29 gallon high,I need the bulb and I use sphagnum moss and that's actually helping keeping the humidity up. The UTH will just create a hot spot..now in my 20 gallon long,I have no UTH but just a heat bulb,cause the tank isn't deep and a bulb makes everything perfect'including hot spot being. I have them black plastic hides and they get hot easily..in my 29 gallon high,I have a thick resin yep hide and heat from the bulb can't get through,so that's why I use the UTH.

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:

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Originally Posted by satomi325

Lol really?
That's rather annoying. They should understand that people can use both and both can work well to maintain heat.

It really doesn't matter if you use just the UTH or both the UTH+bulb as long as you can achieve the proper temps.
However, if you are able achieve those temps with just the UTH, then I always encourage sticking to that only. I find that adding the bulbs just adds unnecessary work to maintain humidity.

---

Yes,Crazy Monkee,is like stalking my posts,lol,it's creeping me out and she/he is persistent on telling me I don't need both,has told me atleast 5 times when ever I post I have both,yet I still have both,lol,so apparently I am not listening to her amateur advice.

yes the bulbs def do,but especially being I don't have a rack set up or a small tank,but a larger 29 gallon high,I need the bulb and I use sphagnum moss and that's actually helping keeping the humidity up. The UTH will just create a hot spot..now in my 20 gallon long,I have no UTH but just a heat bulb,cause the tank isn't deep and a bulb makes everything perfect'including hot spot being. I have them black plastic hides and they get hot easily..in my 29 gallon high,I have a thick resin yep hide and heat from the bulb can't get through,so that's why I use the UTH.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899

I have someone on this forum following me around constantly stating I don't need both,yet both work for me and my set up is fine..I've found ways to maintain good humidity as well and that's with a heat bulb and UTH

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First if you'd listen.. I said it's pointless to have your uth running at 83 while the lamp is at 90. Don't worry so I don't have to listen to your nonsense I will ignore you.
I never said you didn't need both go read them all
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Quote:

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Originally Posted by satomi325

Lol really?
That's rather annoying. They should understand that people can use both and both can work well to maintain heat.

It really doesn't matter if you use just the UTH or both the UTH+bulb as long as you can achieve the proper temps.
However, if you are able achieve those temps with just the UTH, then I always encourage sticking to that only. I find that adding the bulbs just adds unnecessary work to maintain humidity.

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As I told him.... I never said two are not needed... he was running his uth at 83 and light at 90 and was telling other people to do the same. All I said is it's pointless to run the "hot spot" at 83.
As stated I'll just ignore him instead of trying to help.

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