Ball Python Question

Hey all!

I have a few ball python questions, I made a list. :)

1) My thermostat ( Zilla ) is arriving in the mail today, and I was wondering how you guys have set yours for your ball pythons?

2) What do you guys think is the best way to measure a hide for a ball python? I don't know yet how big my ball python will be, but I want to know so that I can quickly buy the right size when I know I'll be adopting.

3) What size enclosure would you say is appropriate for an adult ball python? 20g,30g,40g?

Thank you, everyone! :)

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../5/crayola.jpg
I have the thermostat probe sandwitched in between my UTH and my enclosure. Like so. And I believe a 40gal breeder is sufficient for an adult BP.

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Originally Posted by MD_Pythons

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../5/crayola.jpg
I have the thermostat probe sandwitched in between my UTH and my enclosure. Like so. And I believe a 40gal breeder is sufficient for an adult BP.

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Pictures are always so helpful! My heat mat is zoomed which is stuck to the glass, what do you think of putting it in the substrate directly above the heat mat?

That's not the best idea, your snake could easily move the probe away from the heat source which would cause the heat source to run full throttle and potentially raise temps high enough to burn or cause other damage to your snake. Luckily there are ways to remove UTHs, and they can be affixed with foil tape and reused.

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Originally Posted by MD_Pythons

That's not the best idea, your snake could easily move the probe away from the heat source which would cause the heat source to run full throttle and potentially raise temps high enough to burn or cause other damage to your snake. Luckily there are ways to remove UTHs, and they can be affixed with foil tape and reused.

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Adding to the this; Don’t forget pee and poop! Ball pythons frankly don’t care where they relieve themselves and if that happens to be on the thermostat probe, that can also cause dangerous temperature spikes.

I taped mine to the outside of the heat mat. You would need to measure the actual temp of the glass on the inside and possibly adjust your setting but it works fine.

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Originally Posted by MD_Pythons

That's not the best idea, your snake could easily move the probe away from the heat source which would cause the heat source to run full throttle and potentially raise temps high enough to burn or cause other damage to your snake. Luckily there are ways to remove UTHs, and they can be affixed with foil tape and reused.

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Even though it will be buried in the substrate below, not on top of the substrate?

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Originally Posted by AnnieHeart

Even though it will be buried in the substrate below, not on top of the substrate?

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Keep in mind ball pythons can burrow and it’s no difficulty for them to push or dig through substrate when they are determined enough. This is why it’s reccomemded to measure surface temperatures under your susbstrate on the glass floor (with a temp gun) and not above substrate.

and of course as mentioned earlier, urine and feces is a nasty thing, urine especially can easily soak through substrate and mess with readings.

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

Keep in mind ball pythons can burrow and it’s no difficulty for them to push or dig through substrate when they are determined enough. This is why it’s reccomemded to measure surface temperatures under your susbstrate on the glass floor (with a temp gun) and not above substrate.

and of course as mentioned earlier, urine and feces is a nasty thing, urine especially can easily soak through substrate and mess with readings.

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Ok, that makes sense, thank you for explaining.:)

Yeah, the others are right. The probe goes outside the tank sandwiched between the UTH and the glass.
The probe inside will eventually be moved, peed on, etc... which can cause inaccurate readings and which could lead to dangerous heat spikes.

A 40 gallon breeder is big enough for an adult BP.

As for the hides, if you go too big you can always clutter up the inside to make the snake feel more secure. My BP, Tyson, has a huge RBI hide in his enclosure that I cluttered up and he's uses it regularly.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Yeah, the others are right. The probe goes outside the tank sandwiched between the UTH and the glass.
The probe inside will eventually be moved, peed on, etc... which can cause inaccurate readings and which could lead to dangerous heat spikes.

A 40 gallon breeder is big enough for an adult BP.

As for the hides, if you go too big you can always clutter up the inside to make the snake feel more secure. My BP, Tyson, has a huge RBI hide in his enclosure that I cluttered up and he's uses it regularly.

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Yeah, the only problem is that I have a stick on heat mat... I'll figure something out though...:)

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Originally Posted by AnnieHeart

Yeah, the only problem is that I have a stick on heat mat... I'll figure something out though...:)

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I had one set up like that so I put the proble under the stuck on heat mat and made sure the probe was touching the heatmat ... Works prefectly . Just have a digital temp gun to check the surface temps and adjust the thermostat accordingly ..

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

I had one set up like that so I put the proble under the stuck on heat mat and made sure the probe was touching the heatmat ... Works prefectly . Just have a digital temp gun to check the surface temps and adjust the thermostat accordingly ..

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So, you sandwiched it inside the heat mat up against the glass?

I have a digital temp/hygrometer with a probe, is that fine because that's all I have right now?

1# What I set my thermostat on is IRRELEVANT you need to set YOURS based on what allows you to achieve proper temps, it will depends on the enclosure type, substrate used, ambient temps etc, it's different for everyone.

2# A proper hide should fit a BP like a shell fit a turtle.

3# 30 gallons is more then enough.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

1# What I set my thermostat on is IRRELEVANT you need to set YOURS based on what allows you to achieve proper temps, it will depends on the enclosure type, substrate used, ambient temps etc, it's different for everyone.

2# A proper hide should fit a BP like a shell fit a turtle.

3# 30 gallons is more then enough.

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Thanks! I was just wondering HOW you set it up ( like installing it ) and where you put the probe.

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Originally Posted by AnnieHeart

So, you sandwiched it inside the heat mat up against the glass?

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No ... I had a stick on heatmat like you so I put the probe between the heat mat and the unit making certain the probe was fixed in place TOUCHING the heatmat . Then set the thermostat by checking the warm hide surface temps with a digital temp gun .


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

No ... I had a stick on heatmat like you so I put the probe between the heat mat and the unit making certain the probe was fixed in place TOUCHING the heatmat . Then set the thermostat by checking the warm hide surface temps with a digital temp gun .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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Ahhh...okay got it. Thanks! Sorry for being confusing!

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Originally Posted by MD_Pythons

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../5/crayola.jpg.

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Follow this crayola masterpiece (arguably my favorite visual aid ever).
Probe goes OUTSIDE the enclosure, sandwiched between UTH and glass.
UTH =bottom bread
Tstat probe = meats, cheese, etc...
Glass tank bottom = top bread

I use foil tape, sticky side to sticky side, attached to the heat pad, and then sandwich the probe between taped heat mat and bottom of enclosure. Then I use foil tape to attach heat mat at the bottom. That way, they are easily removable if I need to transfer them.

Can I wrap my sticky UTH with kitchen tin foil, or do I need to use foil tape?

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Originally Posted by AnnieHeart

Can I wrap my sticky UTH with kitchen tin foil, or do I need to use foil tape?

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Regular tin foil is completely fine, just apply it carefully so you don't get any air bubbles

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Originally Posted by Avsha531

Regular tin foil is completely fine, just apply it carefully so you don't get any air bubbles

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What happens with air bubbles?

I doubt anything awful, but it may affect even distribution of heat

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Originally Posted by Avsha531

I doubt anything awful, but it may affect even distribution of heat

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Should I cover only the sticky side? And is one layer enough?

Thank you so much!

Yes and yes[emoji41]

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Originally Posted by Avsha531

Yes and yes[emoji41]

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Ha, okay. :):)

Should I wrap the thermostat probe in foil before I set it on top of the UTH?

Nope. I'll usually tape it with a small strip of foil tape to the bottom of the tank in the center of where the UTH will go (taping on the wire close to the probe not on the actual probe) and then tape the uth tightly over the probe

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Originally Posted by MD_Pythons

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../5/crayola.jpg

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Follow this crayola masterpiece (arguably my favorite visual aid ever).
Probe goes OUTSIDE the enclosure, sandwiched between UTH and glass.
UTH =bottom bread
Tstat probe = meats, cheese, etc...
Glass tank bottom = top bread

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You're making this WAY TOO DIFFICULT.
Follow the crayon diagram, it's in crayon to express how simple it is.

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Originally Posted by Avsha531

Nope. I'll usually tape it with a small strip of foil tape to the bottom of the tank in the center of where the UTH will go (taping on the wire close to the probe not on the actual probe) and then tape the uth tightly over the probe

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

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Thank you:)

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

You're making this WAY TOO DIFFICULT.
Follow the crayon diagram, it's in crayon to express how simple it is.

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I totally get it, sorry for so many questions.
It is important to me to provide the best care for my ball python, and if I have questions I need to ask them until I get it. Thank you for understanding. :)

You all have been very helpful and I really appreciate all you have helped me with and my million questions. Thankssss!

:)

Wouldn't the usage of the little suction cup and tape make it secure to the enclosure?

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Originally Posted by AnnieHeart

I totally get it, sorry for so many questions.
It is important to me to provide the best care for my ball python, and if I have questions I need to ask them until I get it. Thank you for understanding. :)

You all have been very helpful and I really appreciate all you have helped me with and my million questions. Thankssss!

:)

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I hear ya, and compliment your diligence.

Feel free to ask as many questions as you need to.

Just don't forget to just relax. Keeping snakes is supposed to be fun. :gj:

When I sandwich the probe between the UTH and glass, should my probe be touching it since it is a plastic probe? If I cover the probe in foil would it make it fine to be directly touching the UTH?

It should be completely fine, the whole point of the thermostat is to make sure that the temp doesn't get too hot. Keeping it around 90 degrees will not melt plastic:)

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Originally Posted by Avsha531

It should be completely fine, the whole point of the thermostat is to make sure that the temp doesn't get too hot. Keeping it around 90 degrees will not melt plastic:)

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Okay great! I'm super excited!

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Originally Posted by AnnieHeart

Okay great! I'm super excited!

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Don't forget to share pictures:)

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Originally Posted by Avsha531

It should be completely fine, the whole point of the thermostat is to make sure that the temp doesn't get too hot. Keeping it around 90 degrees will not melt plastic:)

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^^^^ Exactly ^^^^

Think about it like this, too, the human body is roughly 98 degrees and plastic wont melt in your hand. So even if you have to bump your t-stat to 100 to achieve a 90 hotspot the plastic wont melt.

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Originally Posted by Avsha531

Don't forget to share pictures:)

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Yeah! I will for sure show pics!

The thermostat is turning off at 90 degrees, and even through the glass is it the same? Like should I turn it up a few degrees so that it is 90 degrees above glass?

You want to be measuring the glass itself using a temp gun. Typically I have to set my tstats around 94 to get a 90 hotspot.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

You want to be measuring the glass itself using a temp gun. Typically I have to set my tstats around 94 to get a 90 hotspot.

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Okay