is this ok....?

so i went today to pick up all the supplies for my tank

problem is, i have nothing to clamp the light onto in my room

i have a temporary solution, but then i saw this:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/Sections...-1-page-1.html

from this website, the lamp on top of the wire mesh top

I would think that's a big no-no, because of the chance for it to start a fire

on a side note-question...what wattage of bulb are you all using? especially if your tank is set up with the light shown in pic above.

When i kept Andy in a tank with a screen lid, i had the light resting right on top of the mesh without any problems. You just have to make sure you dont put something flamable close to the light. As far as wattage goes, that will be something you need to experiment with. The temp in the room where your bp is kept, the amount of air flow around and through the tank, and the length of time you leave the light on will all be determining factors in the wattage of bulb you need. You'll probably need to experiment with different wattages until you get it down.

I have a ceramic heat emitter in a clamp fixture sitting on top of screen on the one tank I do keep (the rest are in Sterilites, and yes, she does have under-tank heating as well). No worries about fire, really, because I don't leave paper or mice or anything flammable close to the CHE.

hmm, i wonder what the flammability rating is on mice anyhow?

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Originally Posted by mlededee

hmm, i wonder what the flammability rating is on mice anyhow?

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i can test it out for you :twisted:

Well, they do have that little warning tag, but it's kinda hard to read. ;)

yeah, my eyesight isn't that great. i'm due for some new contacts soon anyhow.

Must've missed those Marla ;)

well i decided to go with a 75W bulb

i dont have it resting directly on top of the wire mesh lid though.

i'm still checking temps on both sides to find out what i need


thanks for your replies

I was just wondering if you have a heating pad for underneath the tank? Have you tried heating the tank with just the heating pad since belly heat is necessary for the best digestion? If the heating pad heats the tank up to the appropriate temps, then you don't have to worry about having a light. BPs, being nocturnal, don't need any other lighting than what is coming through a window. Ditch the light for now and go to WalMart and get a human heating pad without auto shutoff. That would be your best bet. Besides, since you're keeping your snake in a tank, the light will leach out the humidity, giving you more problems than you need. Hope this helps.

i have a reptile heating pad and the lamp as well

i have the lamp on a timer, which is on for about 12hrs everyday

but the heating pad is on 24/7

i dont think the heating pad gives off that much heat to be honest. it is just enough, but the light adds to the warmth

right now in roxy's new tank all i have is a heat pad,it is most likely tempoary becuase right now i think the temps are about 80 85 in her tank but i wont be for sure until i get that thermometer thing at walmart (tomorrow) but she seems fine and actally has been spending alot of time on her cool side instead of over the heat pad and she shed perfectly today so all seems well.

bpewbie, i used to do the same thing with the light and the heat pad, i let the heat pad run 24/7 and i turned the light off at night and i was basicly roasting my snake, it was about 95 in there when the light was on, just somthing to think about, do you have a digital thermmometer??

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dont think the heating pad gives off that much heat to be honest. it is just enough, but the light adds to the warmth

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What is the temp from the heating pad? How are you measuring the temperatures in your tank?

its really not that big of a deal unless your house is really cold, its pretty funny, whenever my mom turns the air on i sneak over and turn it off(or at least on low),she gets pretty pissed but i always explain to her that we are not roasting in here therfore we dont NEED the AC on all day long.

and i hope i dont need to use a light again becuase that means i will have to go buy another screen top, right now im using peg board cut to fit the tank and the light cant get through that really.

see i have the light kinda close, but if i have it up higher....i can get it at the ideal temps


I do have a digital thermometer/humidity guage, and i've been working on getting everything perfect

i dont want to roast my snake by any means.....i had someone suggest a temp gun, which in case you dont know uses IR to find the exact temp.

ok i just read the care sheet from here:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/Sections...-1-page-1.html

and my temps were right on target

the hot side was actually at 93 and the cold side was at almost 80

on the cold side i just have a normal thermo.

but as i said, i did have it where the lamp was on during the day....it is not on right now, but the heating pad still is.