Ambient temperature for bp

Idk if it's just me but I've heard of and read a lot of people saying that they like to keep ambient temperature at like 75-80 degrees and nothing lower. FOR me I have kept my ball pythons at 90 degree hot spots with 65-75 cool spots (fluctuate between day and night) without any problems: RI, feeding, etc. Some people might call me crazy, but I have kept these conditions for 2-3 years and my ball pythons seem to be doing fine.

Mine have been a little on the cool side for several years also, without any major problems. I do have one sick currently, but he's a very long term animal so I don't think temperature is the problem with this one.

What reason would you have to keep them that low? I'm sorry but Africa is pretty hot... why keep an animal that is supposed to be kept warm in low temps? Let's all throw our children out in winter with no coats as well. Yeh that don't make sense either does it???

You want to know something interesting I had a bp in a 40gal tank with no source of heat average temp in the low 60 and a log hide no humidity and feed it once a month if not every other one a mouse pinky or something way to small for it I had the snake for 5 years before I gave it away. BIG difference in surviving and thriving. You decided to own this snake the least you can do is take care of it the correct way.

First of all, idk how you can put surviving and thriving in this situation because you have no idea if in animal is in a survival situation or in a thriving position. I'm just stating that my ball pythons were kept in these certain conditions, 89-91 degree hot spots with 65-75 degree cool spot and 40-60% humidity with regular feedings a week, without any problems. These were how I kept my ball pythons hatchling to adults without problem.

I dont know if this would be anything similar but in one other case with bp husbandry is the size of the tubs for different snakes. I've seen people put their hatchlings into 41 qt tubs and have had no issues. This is a problem to people because the cage is too big and stress the animal, others think that it will be better for the animal because it will acclimate to that enclosure. IN other cases I've seen people put adult ball pythons, male and female, in 28qt tubs and have no issues because some think smaller is a bit better for feeding responses. Another case, incubators where people think they have to be exact with the temperatures. I've seen numerous people use regular thermostats and even dimmers rather than proportional and have had great success.

Just goes to prove how much keepers vary.
You don't have to follow the guidelines to the letter.
I know a couple people here in Texas that only heat their rooms in winter and only to about 80ish degrees.

Africa is not this barren desert that most people think it is.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Just goes to prove how much keepers vary.
You don't have to follow the guidelines to the letter.
I know a couple people here in Texas that only heat their rooms in winter and only to about 80ish degrees.

Africa is not this barren desert that most people think it is.

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You make a very great point. Some breeders dont have heat spots and just have ambient temperature of 80-87 degrees. I see many people who worry about so many things like ambient temp. and such about husbandry but my opinion is nothing has to be perfect. I have 13 snakes in open homemade rack systems and all live in same conditions for 2-3 years and have not had one snake die or get sick on me. Knock on wood.

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Originally Posted by Maddumpling

First of all, idk how you can put surviving and thriving in this situation because you have no idea if in animal is in a survival situation or in a thriving position. I'm just stating that my ball pythons were kept in these certain conditions, 89-91 degree hot spots with 65-75 degree cool spot and 40-60% humidity with regular feedings a week, without any problems. These were how I kept my ball pythons hatchling to adults without problem.

I dont know if this would be anything similar but in one other case with bp husbandry is the size of the tubs for different snakes. I've seen people put their hatchlings into 41 qt tubs and have had no issues. This is a problem to people because the cage is too big and stress the animal, others think that it will be better for the animal because it will acclimate to that enclosure. IN other cases I've seen people put adult ball pythons, male and female, in 28qt tubs and have no issues because some think smaller is a bit better for feeding responses. Another case, incubators where people think they have to be exact with the temperatures. I've seen numerous people use regular thermostats and even dimmers rather than proportional and have had great success.

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I bring it in to this situation because I have seen a lot of people try to use the idea. (Because the animal is living it is doing just fine).

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Originally Posted by fishdip

I bring it in to this situation because I have seen a lot of people try to use the idea. (Because the animal is living it is doing just fine).

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Than that would mean the same thing in other conditions as well such as a 75-80 degree ambient temp. Did you know in Africa the temps at night can get to 50 degrees or below. No one knows what the animal feels so we can only assume and not always right.


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Originally Posted by Maddumpling

Than that would mean the same thing in other conditions as well such as a 75-80 degree ambient temp. Did you know in Africa the temps at night can get to 50 degrees or below. No one knows what the animal feels so we can only assume and not always right.


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Yep we all may be wrong they may want to live in 60-70 temps you don't know for sure what they want. Every snake is different and I am not attacking you but I felt this thread need a disclaimer because the way I had been keeping the snake was normal at the time and all the pet stores in town had been doing it that way for years and the snakes seemed fine.

It may drop that low, but in their rodent burrows, isn't it warmer than that due to retained heat from the sun? And that is where they spend 90% of their time.

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Originally Posted by thejenius77

It may drop that low, but in their rodent burrows, isn't it warmer than that due to retained heat from the sun? And that is where they spend 90% of their time.

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OR is it cooler being insulated from the heat of the sun underground??
Ponder on that one for a while.....................

Touchè. But from what I've read from "expert" studies, it's like insulation. Cooler than the direct sun, but stays warmer from being heated by the sun, than the outside air temps when it's cooler. I think a trip to Africa is in order. ;)

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Originally Posted by thejenius77

. I think a trip to Africa is in order. ;)

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Could just ask a couple of the members here that went with Brian from BHB :gj:
I would think the difference would be how deep the burrow is :confusd:

Good point. They dig down deeper to get cool. Come closer or go outside to get warmer.

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I think a trip to Africa is in order. ;)

some nice Africa video;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZqZGHtizeI

If only I could understand that. Lol

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Idk, I keep my ambients at 84-88° give or take and everything is doing great. No hotspots, just room heat.


I like my Dubstep to go Wop Wop Wop Wop

Ball pythons are active at night so I would think that ball pythons at some point would come out at night to eat or something.

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My ambient tub temps have been ~75-78F. Never below 75. My room is ~73-76F. I've not had any issues with feeding/shedding or seen any signs of illness at all. Come summer, when things are warmer outside, the ambient temps I'm sure will be 80-82, as I keep my house 78-80F. I have a hotspot for them with my UTH of 90-92F.

Experience is always more valuable then second hand knowledge. Not to mention everybody who starts or tries something new will gain more insight and retain more from experience themselves and that of others. A LOT of seasoned veterans on this site alone says "technically you should or the correct way is but...i have had good results doing it this way." So i say lets throw the book out the window!!!! :D


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