Little Guy Wedged Between Light

Hey everyone,

So there's always something.. I just got my T8 set up and have had the light in it on for 2 days straight to help get the air temp up. I put my little BP in there about 30 min ago.. Since the new tank isnt cluttered enough for him at all he ended up wedging himself between the tank and the light.. My concerns are if this is too tight of a space for him/if I should remove the light to take him out and also if that light is going to burn him.. I immediately turned it off when I saw he was back there..

Thank you guys and gals in advance for the help!!

My bumblebee does it all the time also. From what I've seen they can wedge themselves in and when they want to get down they'll just drop like they weren't even in a tight spot. Also the light doesn't get hot enough back there to burn them. The only thing I would be worried about is the light falling off and exposing the hole up there where they could escape from. As long as the light is on there tight you shouldn't have a problem

I'm confused because I don't know what the T8 is (don't have them in Canada). What kind of light is in there? I'm thinking some sort of LED because the second post says it doesn't get very hot, but I am concerned because OP said they wanted to warm up the enclosure...

Is it possible to post a picture? (Or is there one online somewhere as an example?)

My corn used to wedge herself in between the lip of her glass vive and the lid, when she could actually fit! She would just down as well when she had enough. I wouldn't worry about it - unless the light produces some kind of heat! Or if you notice your BP squirming and showing signs of stress while trying to get down.

It's a fluorescent bulb inside of a plastic fixture. The bulb does give off some heat but towards the front, the back where the op is talking about is all plastic

Thanks for the quick responses!

Here's the lil guy:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...397/hiding.jpg

I know BP can wedge themselves in and out of places really well.. But will that light burn him? My instincts say yes... But maybe I'm wrong?

I thought it was common practice to build enclosures with light fixtures on the outside???? I would leave the light on for a few hours with him in another enclosure and monitor the temps he will be exposed to. If they are not within a ball pythons temp range then you might have a problem


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I've had mine do that when they first were put in the T8. Never had an issue with it. I've put my hand back there and it didn't feel too hot on the plastic. I did have my big male knock his light off last week somehow. Nowhere he could go, even if he could fit his fat butt through that hole, with another T8 on top.

Thank you everyone!! I was just worried because I left the light on for 2 days prior to putting him in the tank to raise the air temps. I never thought to check to see how hot it gets behind the fixture or if my BP would be wedging himself in there, lol.. Relieved to know it isn't a concern!

That's not to say you still shouldn't check it.
I'd get a temp gun or some kind of probed thermometer (perhaps one that you already have) to check it out and make sure it is no hotter than 90F directly on the plastic.

Just because it doesn't feel hot to us doesn't mean it isn't to them. As it goes with their "hot spots"!

Why would you use a fluorescent light to get the heat up? Fluorescent lights are for UVA/UVB and VISIBLE(to us) light, not INFRA RED/HEAT. If you want to get the heat up, get a ceramic heat emitter, or infrared bulb. The only part of a fluorescent tube fixture that's going to throw off any heat is the ballast.......:snake:

I don't think these lights are going to get hot enough to burn them. Otherwise I wouldn't think they would sell them for inside the enclosure....

Just warm up a f/t or get a live feeder and place it in the enclousure. Little fella probably come right out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DooLittle

I don't think these lights are going to get hot enough to burn them. Otherwise I wouldn't think they would sell them for inside the enclosure....

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Ooooh, gotcha! I didn't realize they were sold that way.
I would still check, personally :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ripsaw642

Why would you use a fluorescent light to get the heat up? Fluorescent lights are for UVA/UVB and VISIBLE(to us) light, not INFRA RED/HEAT. If you want to get the heat up, get a ceramic heat emitter, or infrared bulb. The only part of a fluorescent tube fixture that's going to throw off any heat is the ballast.......:snake:

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The purpose of the light is not to get the heat up. I may have been unclear.. The lights purpose is to be a light. However a light left on for long periods of time is going to get hot. So, living in Vermont, I made every effort I could to get the air temps up before putting the little guy in there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DooLittle

I don't think these lights are going to get hot enough to burn them. Otherwise I wouldn't think they would sell them for inside the enclosure....

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Thank you. I feel the same way, I just over worry.. I also had it on for 3 days and wasn't sure if it would overheat since it wasn't designed for that..