Artificial light and BPs: Is a natural light cycle "Bad" for BPs?

I recently responded to a post on a FB BP group... The OP had a light on for the pics and it was basically inferred that you should never use artificial light in an enclosure with a BP. I commented and said that if the snake was provided proper hides and cover and the light cycle was natural (12hrs) then I saw no problem with having the enclosure lighted... I was then told that BPs hardly ever see light in nature and that light stresses them out, to which I responded that this was news to me...I've never heard that or read it online. Now, I don't have a ton of BP experience (I currently own 3), so I thought I'd post here and get the general consensus of the forum.

So, my question to you guys, who have been keeping far longer than me is: Is artificial light (i.e. 6500k daylight bulb) on a timed light cycle bad for BPs if given proper cover?

I'd appreciate your input as I don't want to be spreading false info, but also want to know if what I was told is BS or over-exaggerated.

I would ditch the Light bulb and go with nature day light

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UVB lights on a 12/12 are actually beneficial to a BP, from what I understand. They're more likely to bask and be out and about while still utilizing hides. And I like keeping my ball on a 12/12 cycle anyways -- that way I actually get to see her sometimes lol.

What about very limited light (i.e. Underground basement with a small transom window)? Curious if a BP is able to decifer night and day with such limited light.

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

What about very limited light (i.e. Underground basement with a small transom window)? Curious if a BP is able to decifer night and day with such limited light.

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I think as long as the room gets visibly lighter than it is at night, you are OK. I'm not even sure if they actually "need" a light cycle.

UVB is beneficial but it's not necessary, natural light cycle is sufficient imo, I don't use any extra sources of light for my bp, and the breeder I got Solidus from didn't recommend doing so, either. It should be enough that the room they're in is light during the day and dark during the night, but I guess honestly like most things in bp keeping, it comes down to your own preference - - so if you want to invest in artificial lighting, go ahead, at least there's no harm in it.

I am curious about this myself. I have always read that since they are nocturnal they have no benefit from UVB lighting but do they benefit from having more direct light exposure from either a UVB bulb or full spectrum light or is that only for breeding?

I have always had my snake in indirect lighting from windows across from his enclosure but if direct lighting albeit dim is beneficial, I would like to know.

I don't know. I've never offered UV lighting to any of my reptiles except my chameleon. All of my nocturnal reptiles either get D3 supplemented in the diet they eat, dusted on feeders, or in the case of rodent-eaters, I believe they absorb some from their prey.

What was weird to me (and the reason I posted this thread) was that people were telling me that it was BAD for you to have any extra light on a BP setup, which I have never heard. I have actually since left that group because they seem to have very strict (and somewhat absurd) guidelines on what is and is not acceptable BP husbandry....i.e. the lighting issue above :/

I was told that natural light cycle is good and that having light on all the time can cause stress for BPs because of how active they are at night.

Always assumed that the reason for their activity was the lack of light.

Also pretty sure that they can see the red light even if it is dim, so it very likely that will cause at least a little bit of stress.
Im a recent owner, but I was using a heat lamp (red) at night for the first few nights. I found after removing it and switching to a heat mat with a thermostat he became much more active at night because there was no light for him to hide from.

ball pythons don't need "natural light" like UVB like lots of lizards do. BP's get all the needed calcium from the bones they digest from rodents. I have all my snakes running on a 12 hour light cycle and they all seem to do fine. at night they come out more because they are nocturnal, but sometimes some will come out early morning and lay in the light.

Mine has a light in his T8 on a timer and likes to stare at it occasionally. He also likes to have his face stuck out of wherever he's hiding in the morning most of the time when it comes on so he can watch out of his cage. He hides his face again around when I leave for work. He doesn't seem stressed by it at all - he's honestly become kind of nosy and seems to want to know what's going on. (He might just be hoping for more food from me because he also seems to want to be fed more than weekly even though I used to feed more like bi-weekly...the clear waiting for food position almost every evening makes me feel a bit guilty :/ he is a fat boi at heart.)

THANK YOU. I belong to the same group and came here to ask the exact same thing! Everyone on the fb grout says light stresses out BPs. Do what??? I've never had that problem or heard of it. The people in that group insist that CHEs are the best way to go, but I hate how much they dry out an enclosure.

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Originally Posted by O'Mathghamhna

THANK YOU. I belong to the same group and came here to ask the exact same thing! Everyone on the fb grout says light stresses out BPs. Do what??? I've never had that problem or heard of it. The people in that group insist that CHEs are the best way to go, but I hate how much they dry out an enclosure.

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Yeah those FB snek groups can be brutal. I posted a cute video of my BP doing a "yawn" and while the majority of users loved and shared the post, I had a select few that BERATED me for having a red light in his setup. We've since switched to a CHE, natural light cycle, and regulators... but honestly his attitude and behaviors haven't drastically changed. He was happy and healthy with the light, and he's still happy and healthy with the CHE. I do prefer the way it looks in his setup now, but FB BP owners are really rude and don't approach these kinds of questions in a helpful manner. That's why I like this forum WAAAY better :)


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Originally Posted by O'Mathghamhna

THANK YOU. I belong to the same group and came here to ask the exact same thing! Everyone on the fb grout says light stresses out BPs. Do what??? I've never had that problem or heard of it. The people in that group insist that CHEs are the best way to go, but I hate how much they dry out an enclosure.

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Yes... When I asked for proof that it was bad for the BP to have a light, if given proper hides, etc. They directed me to a group article from their group that only said "lighting isn't necessary" nothing about it being harmful.

Now, I fully believe if you didn't give the snake hides or if you left the light on 24/7, that you would see negative effects from it. But having a light on a timer with proper hides? Too many people keep snakes like that without any issues, myself included.

I personally think many people on those groups just parrot the information they have been given and extrapolate on it... i.e. a mod told them that light was unnecessary and to give hides if using one in the day...which became "lights are bad for bps" when told from one poster to another over time.

I just wish that they wouldn't react so harshly to people that use different methods. Even if what a poster is doing is wrong (proven harmful) you can tell them that and give helpful suggestions without coming off as rude and preachy. Unfortunately, I think they often run people off and those people won't improve their husbandry or ask any questions in the future because they have been treated like scum.