The lights in my tank...

In my tank I have an 80 watt bulb that makes the tank about 90 degrees on the warm side that I keep on during the day and then at night I put on these 2 red lights that drop the temperature to like 80 degrees and I know that the temperature shouldnt drop so should I just not use the red lights at all and keep the white light on forever?? :crix:

Ryan-

Have you tried a ceramic heat bulb? This could give you the constant temp you need without needing to switch bulbs, and without keeping a white light shining into your cage all night. Just a thought...

-BT

Or even better - how about a UTH (or two if you need one for the cool side)? Ball pythons digest better with belly heat and supplemental lighting is not necessary.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bjthomps

Ryan-

Have you tried a ceramic heat bulb? This could give you the constant temp you need without needing to switch bulbs, and without keeping a white light shining into your cage all night. Just a thought...

-BT

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no, i havent tried a CHE but I was thinking about just getting a UTH...one of these 2: http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Prod...lyID_5078.aspx

or

http://www.amazon.com/ZooMed-Repti-T...644755?ie=UTF8

which do you guys think is better?? :sunny:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

no, i havent tried a CHE but I was thinking about just getting a UTH...one of these 2: http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Prod...lyID_5078.aspx

or

http://www.amazon.com/ZooMed-Repti-T...644755?ie=UTF8

which do you guys think is better?? :sunny:

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I have been using Exo-Terra UTHs for a few years and they are great. Ultra-thin and long lasting. The Zoo-med, in my experience, don't last as long and they are not the thinnest.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by _BoidFinatic_

I ahve been using Exo-Terra UTHs for a few years and they are great. Ultra-thin and long lasting. The Zoo-med, in my experience, don't last as long and they are not the thinnest.

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cool, thanks, i heard the Exo-Terra work extremely well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

no, i havent tried a CHE but I was thinking about just getting a UTH...one of these 2: http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Prod...lyID_5078.aspx

or

http://www.amazon.com/ZooMed-Repti-T...644755?ie=UTF8

which do you guys think is better?? :sunny:

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Both will need to be run on thermostats - and flexwatt is more affordable than either - I'd go here to take care of your needs: http://www.reptilebasics.com

:eek: WOW...thermostats are ridiculously expensive...I don't have that much money right now...:(

http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Prod...lyID_5078.aspx

^^^ :confused: that UTH says that it is 8"x8" but is that big enough for a 55 gallon tank??? Theres nothing there that lets u choose what gallon tank u have...:snake:

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Prod...lyID_5078.aspx

^^^ :confused: that UTH says that it is 8"x8" but is that big enough for a 55 gallon tank??? Theres nothing there that lets u choose what gallon tank u have...:snake:

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Heres a good brand also. For a 55 gallon tank, I would go with the largest 11'' x 17". Exo -terra also makes many sizes with 11" x 17" being the largest.

http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Prod...ID_100031.aspx

http://exo-terra.com/EN/products/hea..._desert_i.html

Maybe they have different sizes at the store? :confuzd:

The Kritterz "Sauna Zone" heat mats are ultra-thin like that as well, and there are different sizes. I have one, and it's worked for me so far.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

:eek: WOW...thermostats are ridiculously expensive...I don't have that much money right now...:(

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Yep, it's not cheap to keep ball pythons. If you don't go ahead and invest in one though, your UTH's may very well be sending you to the vet with belly burns and will be much more than the investment you make in your snake. Your snake is worth it! :D

Just to answer the original question...it's NOT a good idea to leave the white light on all the time. While BP's don't need a specific time-clock or anything, they DO need a day/night cycle of light. Having light shining on them 24/7 would likely cause high stress and going off feed.

Absoloutely agree regarding the lighting , worst case if you have to use lighting for the moment only use 12 by 12 cycles DO NOT leave a light on continuous it will stress the snake out as has been stated.

Try Ebay for a cheaper alternative to the parts you require, borrow if you have to but its money well spent if you get the correct tools to do the job.

You should really get set up before you get a snake though in all honesty, I find it personally dissapointing to read people say wow thats too expensive whats a cheaper alternative etc etc.

If your going to buy a snake or own one give it and you a good start with teh appropriate husbandry set up and requirements and you will save your snake and you grief in the long run.

As has been said Belly heat is preferable to lighting by far.

I would implore you to try hard and find a way to get what these people are advising.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

:O WOW...thermostats are ridiculously expensive...I don't have that much money right now...:(

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If you can't afford a thermostat, go to Home Depot and purchase the Lutron 300 Watt White Credenza® Lamp Dimmer for $10.00. Plug the dimmer into the wall and the UTH into the dimmer. It allows you to control the flow of electricity to the UTH like a thermostat. It doesn't allow you to set an exact temp that you want, so it takes adjustments often.

It's what I just recently started using and I think it's great. Many on the board use it too.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/82/1626684gk7.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JPost

If you can't afford a thermostat, go to Home Depot and purchase the Lutron 300 Watt White Credenza® Lamp Dimmer for $10.00. Plug the dimmer into the wall and the UTH into the dimmer. It allows you to control the flow of electricity to the UTH like a thermostat. It doesn't allow you to set an exact temp that you want, so it takes adjustments often.

It's what I just recently started using and I think it's great. Many on the board use it too.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/82/1626684gk7.jpg

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really?? i dont understand how u regulate the temp if u cant set it at something...:confused:

The little circle thingy moves up and down to set it at a level

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

:eek: WOW...thermostats are ridiculously expensive...I don't have that much money right now...:(

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Thermostats dont have to be expensive....if you want simple. Now if you want a night drop...well then it gets pricey.

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...at-with-probe/

http://www.aaareptilesupply.com/merc...&Category_Code=

Or you could fry your snakes...

You can spend $70 on a Johnson Controls TStat which is an on/off type and it will work just fine for your one snake for years. Or you could spend $20 and possibly kill your investment.

I prefer not to have a *insert price here* fried snake, but that's just me. Even my normal babies are worth their weight in gold to me and they deserve the best of care, regardless of price.

I use both the JC units and a Herpstat 2 and my snakes are healthy, eat every week as scheduled and don't get fried by a badly built "thermostat". I'd trust that dimmer much farther than I would trust one of those ALife things.

yeah im prolly gonna get the dimmer cuz i have a home depot very close to my house...

A good thermostat, whether a on/off type like a JC or a proportional stat like a helix of herpstat, is probably the best money you'll ever spend on your ball python.

You'll never really "get it" until you have one and see how much easier life gets. Just my .02

With the cheaper thermostats, the cost is usually cut by getting rid of the digital temperature readout and my using lower quality materials. Why spend $30 on a unreliable tstat that does not even read off the temp that it is regulating when you can get a reliable one with digital controls for $40 more?

Personally, I do not weigh the price of thermostats in money values....more like 'worry' values. When I look to purchase heating equipment, I look for something that I can setup and not worry about......it just so happens that with quality comes cost.

QUOTE=rmune0750]yeah im prolly gonna get the dimmer cuz i have a home depot very close to my house...[/QUOTE]

If you go with a dimmer just be aware that as the temperatures in the room and surrounding area change.....so will your heating element temperature. So it would be best to locate the enclosure in an area of the room that has stable temperatures most of the time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Yep, it's not cheap to keep ball pythons. If you don't go ahead and invest in one though, your UTH's may very well be sending you to the vet with belly burns and will be much more than the investment you make in your snake. Your snake is worth it! :D

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Exactly!! :rockon:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet
Yep, it's not cheap to keep ball pythons.

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...ain't that the truth!

Well I agree that a good thermostat is a very important decision that everyone must make.

HOWEVER
Everyone has different motivations and budgets. Helix or Alife or dimmer....as long as we (the community) can give the pros and cons of each, the individual can make up their own minds. Not be forced into a decision on what people believe.

After all...life is all about options and choices. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PipeDADDY

Everyone has different motivations and budgets. Helix or Alife or dimmer....as long as we (the community) can give the pros and cons of each, the individual can make up their own minds. Not be forced into a decision on what people believe.

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Yes, people have choices on how to maintain these animals and the choice of equipment is theirs, whether it be a Helix or Radio Shack Special.

But as far as "what people believe" to be best, I don't think the issue of what equipment functions better is a matter of belief, but more a matter of FACT.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

Yes, people have choices on how to maintain these animals and the choice of equipment is theirs, whether it be a Helix or Radio Shack Special.

But as far as "what people believe" to be best, I don't think the issue of what equipment functions better is a matter of belief, but more a matter of FACT.

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your right! Again...they all work. (which was the crux of the "what people believe" comment) Sure...some work better than others (pro)...but cost more (con) some require more manual intervention (con) and some have a higher worry factor :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

With the cheaper thermostats, the cost is usually cut by getting rid of the digital temperature readout and my using lower quality materials. Why spend $30 on a unreliable tstat that does not even read off the temp that it is regulating when you can get a reliable one with digital controls for $40 more?

Personally, I do not weigh the price of thermostats in money values....more like 'worry' values. When I look to purchase heating equipment, I look for something that I can setup and not worry about......it just so happens that with quality comes cost.

QUOTE=rmune0750]yeah im prolly gonna get the dimmer cuz i have a home depot very close to my house...

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If you go with a dimmer just be aware that as the temperatures in the room and surrounding area change.....so will your heating element temperature. So it would be best to locate the enclosure in an area of the room that has stable temperatures most of the time.

the tank is in my basement...the temp is always stable down there...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

yeah im prolly gonna get the dimmer cuz i have a home depot very close to my house...

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Quote:

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Or you could fry your snakes...

You can spend $70 on a Johnson Controls TStat which is an on/off type and it will work just fine for your one snake for years. Or you could spend $20 and possibly kill your investment.

---

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JPost

If you can't afford a thermostat, go to Home Depot and purchase the Lutron 300 Watt White Credenza® Lamp Dimmer for $10.00. Plug the dimmer into the wall and the UTH into the dimmer. It allows you to control the flow of electricity to the UTH like a thermostat. It doesn't allow you to set an exact temp that you want, so it takes adjustments often.

It's what I just recently started using and I think it's great. Many on the board use it too.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/82/1626684gk7.jpg

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what section of home depot would that be in?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

what section of home depot would that be in?

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They are in the lamps section. Light dimmers where the lights are, ceiling fan dimmers where the fans are, and the lamp dimmers where the lamps are. Took me awhile to find them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JPost

They are in the lamps section. Light dimmers where the lights are, ceiling fan dimmers where the fans are, and the lamp dimmers where the lamps are. Took me awhile to find them.

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k, thanks :carrot: