Lights and BPs

So I'm a member of a Facebook group called "Ball Python Enthusiasts." This particular group appears to be VERY anti-light when it comes to BPs, so much so that if someone posts that they are using a red or blue heat lamp instead of a CHE, they are instantly berated with "OMG U MUST REMOVE THE LAMP ASAP IT IS STRESSING OUT YOUR BP" type posts. I know UVA/UVB light is not a necessity for BPs, and excessive light can stress them out, but can anyone weigh in on how detrimental a red or blue heat lamp could be for a BP?

There is much debate on this subject. I use a CHE for heat but I do have a uvb light on during the day. I think the most important thing is that they don't have light 24hrs a day. I provide mine with a day night cycle. The light stays on for 10 hours during the day and is off at night

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When in doubt, try to mimic what the natural environment would be like. Ball pythons spend most of the day hiding in burrows and such, where humidity is higher and light shining in from the outside during the day or not at all depending on how deep the snake is hiding. Direct light shining on it is not necessarily a bad thing... There are always exceptions to the rule... So if it is eating, shedding, healthy and the light is on a cycle, it can work. The snake will usually tell you what works and what doesn't. If you want to use light for display only, led is a better choice so it won't mess up with the temps in the cage that you already had it dialed in. If you need ambient or additional heating plus viewing at night, infrared (not red) is an option. Ambient lighting would be as close to what they would experience in the wild. That is, if heating is not a concern.


CHE is recommended because we 'think' they can see the spectrum of light at night from other bulbs. In lizards, yes, but scientific evidence is weak in that department and none exists for snakes at this time (or probably ever. Snakes are not the greatest test subjects because they respond to almost every stimuli the same way...and the way they measure it for lizards are disruption in sleep patterns. How do you observe (short from implanting nodes inside and outside the head) that from a snake with no eye lids?

So people err on the side of caution and suggests CHE over infrared bulbs. But lizards and snakes evolved so far apart from each other in thousands of years time... The comparison is practically apples and oranges. Also, CHE comes with risks too: fire hazard if used with the wrong fixture (common mistake), must must must be on thermostat because of how hot it gets, and dries up the tank. CHE is best for those cold snaps if controlled properly. It must also be kept where cats cannot jump and knock it down in fear of fire hazard.

YES for sure, my BP got slightly burned several weeks ago because I didn't have my lamp on a dimmer/thermostat. I have since switched to RHP, which is purrrfect now with excellent temps/humidity. But it just irks me how much people in that group panic over a red or blue bulb that is on a dimmer/thermostat and doing a fine job of maintaining appropriate temps/humidity. They're saying absolutely no lights whatsoever and I just haven't seen the research to agree. I mimic natural conditions as much as possible--the LED light in her tank is only on a few hours a day, during daylight hours, so I can see inside the tank and make sure all is well without disturbing her.

Thank you for your input!

I use a red heat lamp and a CHE for ambient heat levels in my bioactive tank. The snake had no noticeable change in behavior when I installed the red heat lamp. She comes out every single night still and explores just like she always has. She does try to climb to get to the red light at times but that's the only thing I have noticed from it. It lets me view her well at nighttime and I like that. She eats just as well as she always has. I now have a T5 bulb system (for the plants) that really gives her a strong daylight/nighttime difference and she almost always comes out about an hour after the T5 turns off.

Just a thought but I am guessing those people who are screaming about ball pythons being freaked out by light (which by the way I am 100% sure the are exposed to on some levels in the wild) are also people who keep their snakes in tiny plastic tubs on paper towels with nothing but a water bowl. I know everybody has there own way of doing things and I will most likely get a rude comment or two but I just don't feel like that is in the best interest of the animal for the long term. Yeah, I get it if you are a breeder with a ton of babies that will eventually be re-homed but not for the life of the animal. I am not bashing bins either. I have seen people who use bins and still provide their animals with enrichment but it seems most who keep snakes in racks in little plastic tubs do not provide anything except water and a rat one a week or so. Lol didn't mean to go on a rant but it just irritates me the way people act like their opinions are fact. Also on that note I would like to say that everything I just said is my OPINION and what works for me.

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In my opinion, if it's a possibility that snakes can see the red light and be bothered, why would I use them? There's no benefit. May as well use a CHE, which accomplishes the same thing with no light.

I've been using the dark purple bulbs for many years. I've never noticed any adverse effects at all. Within the past few years I've tried using CHEs and have noticed absolutely no difference in behavior at all. I still use the purple bulbs on two enclosures.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

I've been using the dark purple bulbs for many years. I've never noticed any adverse effects at all. Within the past few years I've tried using CHEs and have noticed absolutely no difference in behavior at all. I still use the purple bulbs on two enclosures.

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Nothing wrong with that.
I prefer the dark purple lights myself. I bought a 100 watt che and used it for a short time but I put it away cause I seen the purple 100 watt seemed to heat the tank ambient better imo. I didn't care for the brightness of the red infrared bulbs especially when trying to sleep in the same room and I think snakes get more scared with the infrared red's imo. But with the Zilla black light (favorite) you can hardly tell they are on so they are almost like a che. I have used the zoo med moon light they are pretty good but didn't seem to last as long for me as the Zilla' black lights.

Tip for beginners: Thermostats are not only safer for the animal but make the night lights last a lot longer because the are not on as often. It's kind of like tires. They are not wearing down while sitting in your driveway/road it is when they are moving they wear out. Same with bulbs.

Day time I use room light plus 24/7 night light and then turn off the room light at night.

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Originally Posted by ballpythonsrock2

Nothing wrong with that.
I prefer the dark purple lights myself. I bought a 100 watt che and used it for a short time but I put it away cause I seen the purple 100 watt seemed to heat the tank ambient better imo. I didn't care for the brightness of the red infrared bulbs especially when trying to sleep in the same room and I think snakes get more scared with the infrared red's imo. But with the Zilla black light (favorite) you can hardly tell they are on so they are almost like a che. I have used the zoo med moon light they are pretty good but didn't seem to last as long for me as the Zilla' black lights.

Tip for beginners: Thermostats are not only safer for the animal but make the night lights last a lot longer because the are not on as often. It's kind of like tires. They are not wearing down while sitting in your driveway/road it is when they are moving they wear out. Same with bulbs.

Day time I use room light plus 24/7 night light and then turn off the room light at night.

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Yeah, the dark ones from Zilla are good. I've actually had good luck with the ones at Walmart too, although I can't for the life of me remember the brand, but not a known brand in the hobby that I'm aware of.
I used to sleep in the same room as the snakes too, until they outgrew the room and now have their own. But my quarantine enclosure is still in the room I sleep in. And I run a purple bulb on that one. It's so dark it's almost a cool, peaceful mood light.

Can't speak for the effects (or lack thereof) of black or red lights on BPs, since I don't currently keep BPs, but have a number of other snakes, some of whom appear
to love the nightly basking (they always have UTH too) under these "lights" (dimmed, of course). I've been using them for many years for snakes that like & use them,
I see no issues whatsoever. Personally I'd ignore their hysteria, & avoid posting about whatever brings it on. ;)

BTW, I know of no "official" research on the subject...only people's opinions. My snakes tend to live long healthy lives too.

I personally have been using red or infrared light bulbs for close to twenty years easy. I can post pics and weights of my four boys. I doubt highly it has any negative effect on them whatsoever. That’s my two cents, a couple others seem to think like minded. Did notice Che’s zap humidity just as if not faster then a bulb. Peace.

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Originally Posted by Sonny1318

I personally have been using red or infrared light bulbs for close to twenty years easy. I can post pics and weights of my four boys. I doubt highly it has any negative effect on them whatsoever. That’s my two cents, a couple others seem to think like minded. Did notice Che’s zap humidity just as if not faster then a bulb. Peace.

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I agree. I also found CHE to get rid of humidity more than my red bulb does.

Yeah, I just got booted from that same Fb group for telling another member a red or blue bulb on a dimmer switch is perfectly fine... I understand if people choose not to use lights, but forcing that mentality on people when it may be perfectly harmless (and appears to be harmless for most experienced keepers who have no issues) is wrong to me. I have read the peer-reviewed scientific journal that specifically states UV/UVB lights are unnecessary for BPs, but I can't find a single article or scientific study saying simply that any light whatsoever causes them stress. Thanks everyone for weighing in!

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Originally Posted by O'Mathghamhna

Yeah, I just got booted from that same Fb group for telling another member a red or blue bulb on a dimmer switch is perfectly fine... I understand if people choose not to use lights, but forcing that mentality on people when it may be perfectly harmless (and appears to be harmless for most experienced keepers who have no issues) is wrong to me. I have read the peer-reviewed scientific journal that specifically states UV/UVB lights are unnecessary for BPs, but I can't find a single article or scientific study saying simply that any light whatsoever causes them stress. Thanks everyone for weighing in!

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Getting booted is pretty rude, but it sounds like you got the better end of that deal...you're free of them. :rofl: I sure wouldn't let it keep me awake nights. :snake:

And by the way, one of the kinds of snakes I keep that LOVE basking under dimmed black lights are my Trans Pecos rat snakes. They are nocturnal hunters in
the wild, & most of the time there'd be some moon-light, so I don't understand the big deal at all. They have options (hides with no heat or heated with UTH)
yet they prefer to sleep in their baskets that are wired to branches & right under the dimmed black lights. Clearly not "disturbed" by this & BPs are similar in that they too are nocturnal hunters. My Australian spotted python is also a black or red bulb fan...she prefers to bask on her driftwood+ over her UTH heated hide also. My adult Florida rat snakes also like to bask. So :P to that FB group, lol. :snake:

Yeah, no real love lost re: getting kicked out of the group. The other group I'm a member of actually has a "rule" that you aren't allowed to refer to your snake as a "noodle" because "it's stupid and we are tired of hearing it." :O

I always defer to this place. Not only is there vast knowledge and experience here, it is almost always delivered compassionately and constructively. <3

I've been keeping critters for decades. The subject of lighting and the myths continue.

Aside from uncontrolled heating elements of any type, the only thing to be concerned about is if the animal can see a particular wavelength of light. I don't believe BPs have spectral sensitivity into the red, at least not to any significant amount if memory serves.

I've used the moonlight bulbs for eons with no problem. They simulate a nice blue hue that one sees at night in the wild.

People are stupid, and FB is full of junk.

People that own exotics especially seem to think these animals will fall apart at the slightest incident, not true.

I dont use any lights other than the natural light of the room. He has a good sense of when its day and night just with that so I think hes good with just that.

The fact there is debate on this subject shows you how stupid people are. They are probably the same people buying tons of toilet paper for a virus that does NOT cause a human to poop abnormally.

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Originally Posted by viper69

I've been keeping critters for decades. The subject of lighting and the myths continue.

Aside from uncontrolled heating elements of any type, the only thing to be concerned about is if the animal can see a particular wavelength of light. I don't believe BPs have spectral sensitivity into the red, at least not to any significant amount if memory serves.

I've used the moonlight bulbs for eons with no problem. They simulate a nice blue hue that one sees at night in the wild.

People are stupid, and FB is full of junk.

People that own exotics especially seem to think these animals will fall apart at the slightest incident, not true.

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I couldn't agree more. I love moonlight bulbs, they are perfect for so many types of critters.

My BPs don't get any light other than the natural light in the room during the day and when my light is on at night. It's still somewhat dark for them when lights are on. They are in tubs and spend most of their time in the hides.