first BP need heat advise

I just got my first BP, just had a few questions about heat. It looks like I am going to need another heat source, I cant get the 55 gallon tank above 77 degrees even under the red heat lamp is only 79 most of the time. She is cold, because she climbed a limb and is sleeping about 2 inches from the infra red lamp. Do I need two light/heat bulbs, one for day and one for night? If so what is the best and how long do they stay on or off and the best thermometer on/off switch?

Also I have heard many things about humidity, right now I have her at 80%, is that two high? What is the min and max I should have?

Thanks

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Originally Posted by wetbar

I just got my first BP, just had a few questions about heat. It looks like I am going to need another heat source, I cant get the 55 gallon tank above 77 degrees even under the red heat lamp is only 79 most of the time. She is cold, because she climbed a limb and is sleeping about 2 inches from the infra red lamp. Do I need two light/heat bulbs, one for day and one for night? If so what is the best and how long do they stay on or off and the best thermometer on/off switch?

Also I have heard many things about humidity, right now I have her at 80%, is that two high? What is the min and max I should have?

Thanks

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Before I tell you to get more supply, how big is your BP (weight)?

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First thought.... How big is your BP ? 55g tank is pretty huge unless it's almost full grown. That's a lot of tank to heat


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we go to the vet tomorrow, but she is about 16 inches long and maybe a pound.

Ok 55gallon tank wayyyy to big for a ball that size


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When she gets big enough for the larger enclosure, I use one 150 watt bulb, WITH a thermostat (I use the Herpstat 1) on one side of the cage for the high temperature and a 50 watt on the other side for the low temp of 80. At my house, the 50 watt doesn't need a thermostat. Beware that different room temperatures will influence the temperature of the heat lamp that's not connected to the thermostat.
I personally use a day light and a night light but a lot of people say they don't need a day light. I find my snake more active when I use the day light.
As for humidity, you can make a humid hide out of a plastic container with a lid. I made an opening and some air holes with a saudering iron and just added damp coconut husk to the bottom.

The fish tank is too big and too tall.
Would also doubt the humidity is that high.

If you really want to keep in glass you should drop back to a 20 long, its a lot less of a fight to correct your husbandry.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

The fish tank is too big and too tall.
Would also doubt the humidity is that high.

If you really want to keep in glass you should drop back to a 20 long, its a lot less of a fight to correct your husbandry.

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Agreed !! [emoji1303][emoji216]


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ok I will go get two heat lamps today, but what color bulb do I want and when do I switch colors? I will get a 250 watt bulb from home depot to get the temps where they should be. Should that be the red light as well?

The main problem here is that you need to do some research on adequate husbandry based on your animal's size and listen to people.

Those issues you are experiencing are only the beginnng.


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Damn 55gallon for a 16inch snake.. that's a lot of glass

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New tank. 15-20 gallon. Uth and thermostat is all you pretty much need. My humidity was reading really high at 80% in my tank and it was way wrong. I switched to digital and it was only 20% my snake was dehydrating.

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yup thermometers are way off I now have 3 thermometers and two humidistats. the digital humidistat is reading 72, but the petco one that sticks on the glass is reading 50. The digital all living things thermostat is reading 96.4 and the petco anolog that sticks to the side is reading 90 and it is at the top of the cage near the heat light and another digital is about 2 inches from the all living things one and it is reading 77 degrees. WTH who makes the best thermometer?

1. First things first, since this is your first BP please check this threads they will help you:
- Ball Python Care Sheet
- BP Husbandry FAQs
- How To Set Up A Glass Tank (With Pictures)

2. 55g is way too big for a 16 inches bp, it can be done but it's an uphill battle and most of the times, sooner or later, the snake will "force" you to change into something smaller until he is big enough. Please consider changing to something smaller first (tub or tank). If you decide to not go with something smaller just know that your husbandry will need to be spot on (which will be its own battle) and that tank will need to really be cluttered for it to work.

3. It looks like you are just ignoring the advice Deborah and Pit* are giving you. Please, at least, consider what they are saying. They are giving you some solid advice and as Deborah said, with this circumstances and this setup, these issues are just the beginning.

4. Regarding the questions on your initial post:
- You can use 2 light bulbs, 1 for day, other for night, or you can go with red bulbs (that can be on day and night) or, better yet, a CHE (they don't emit any light just heat).
- You NEED a thermostat to regulate those lamps/heat sources, don't use them unregulated. Until you get one, unplug the lamps or use a dimmer, that way you can have some control over the temperature. Get some good thermometers, hygrometers and a temp gun to help you measure the temperature and humidity inside your enclosure. I'll assume you are in the US so I'll let the US folks over here recommend you some good thermometers, hygrometers and temp guns (stick-ons and analogs are as good as you just guessing).
- Humidity should be between 40%-60% most of the time, bump it to 70%-80% during shed.

5. Thermostats regulate the temperature, Thermometers measure the temperature. Hygrostats regulate the humidity, Hygrometers read the humidity.


*Deborah, Pit and other users. I just mentioned them because I've seen them giving solid advice and saving peoples asses countless times.

So have you thought of getting a smaller enclosure? One of the reasons they recomend it is so the snake feels more safe and secure. If balls get stressed they starve themselves etc.
I think a 250 watt bulb is too high. Please tell me you bought a thermostat as well. Even the 150 can get too high on one side of the tank without a thermostat.
For heat lamps you use infrared bulbs and full spectrum bulbs.