lighting for my ball python

Is it ok to use a day light that stays on for 10 hours and then shut off with no light at night for 8 hours ive just been reading about lighting and i have not been using any light at night but ive read something about a blue light at night. How important is this? stacy:colbert:

"Light" isn't particularly important to a BP at all. What they need is warmth. If people use a lamp at night, its to keep the snake warm. You don't need a lamp just to provide light...as the ambient light in your room (even if its not very bright) is more than enough to provide a day/night cycle.


What are you using to keep a proper temperature gradient in the enclosure? (around 92 on one side...and around 82 on the other.)

Im using a light sitting on top of the screen and i have the foil on all of the screen with the black duck tape covering the foil. my temp gage in side the cage reads 90 during the day and when i shut the light off at night sometimes i notice in the morning that the temp gage reads 65-70 that seems cool to me but my pet store told me that was fine because what do you think snakes do at night out side ! So should i be using another heat source along with something at night to keep her warm. thank you:) stacy

the only temp gauge i have are the stick on ones that tell me the humidity and the temp and the humidity is 30 to 40 all the time so i know im sure im doing everything wrong please help thanks stacy:oops:

Go to Wal-Mart. In the hardware section, there will be a bunch of digital thermometers in one of the aisles. Pick the one that's about 12 dollars. It should tell you inside (cool side) temperature, outside (warm side) temperature, and humidity. Set up the actual unit on the cool side, then place the probe at the warm side. See what it is then. The stick-on gauges have a tendency to be wrong, especially the humidity ones.

so do that and firgure out what the actually temps are then see what i need to do? Also when she shed a couple of weeks ago it took her 13 days and it was in small pieces so maybe the humidity is all messed up. ? stacy

Do you ever spray the cage? That might help the humidity some. you say you have a light; is that the only source of heat? So it has no heat at night? If that's true, you need to get an under tank heater. To measure its temperature, put the probe directly on the glass, under the substrate, where the UTH is. To control the UTH, either use a plug-in lamp dimmer (also found in an aisle in the hardware section for about $9), which will control it to an extent, unless the room temperature changes, which is when you have to adjust it a little to get it where you want it; or you can use a thermostat, which will cost more but be more accurate. You can find thermostats online on mgreptiles.com, maybe reptilesupply.com, etc. They range from $30 to $300, depending on the quality, features, and accuracy of the thermostat.

my setup is similar to your's, I have a day light on during the day and 2 RED Night Lights for at night but im getting rid of the lights setup soon and getting a UTH, i think you should do the same. :salute:

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Originally Posted by stacy5150

Im using a light sitting on top of the screen and i have the foil on all of the screen with the black duck tape covering the foil. my temp gage in side the cage reads 90 during the day and when i shut the light off at night sometimes i notice in the morning that the temp gage reads 65-70 that seems cool to me but my pet store told me that was fine because what do you think snakes do at night out side ! So should i be using another heat source along with something at night to keep her warm. thank you:) stacy

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That low of a temp is NOT fine. Your likely to help give your snake a respiratory infection. As to what ball pythons do at night outside...well ask if that pet store person if they have a clue as to where ball pythons originate from. If they even have that basic knowledge it shouldn't take long for it to click that temps in that geographic region don't drop that much.

You NEED an source of heat under the enclosure period! If you don't it will be harder for digestion to take place and then you could be deeling with RI and a non feeding snake. Please do some research.

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Originally Posted by stacy5150

Im using a light sitting on top of the screen and i have the foil on all of the screen with the black duck tape covering the foil. my temp gage in side the cage reads 90 during the day and when i shut the light off at night sometimes i notice in the morning that the temp gage reads 65-70 that seems cool to me but my pet store told me that was fine because what do you think snakes do at night out side ! So should i be using another heat source along with something at night to keep her warm. thank you:) stacy

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Most petshop people are sooo ignorant.. I went into petco to see if they carried any rheostats, and if they had any acceptable thermostats(buy online, most pet shops don't) and the 2 girls looked at each other and asked me, " Whats that"???

Thank you everyone for your help im heading to the store now to get this stuff I knew something was not right about my set up so im so glad to have found this forum to get the info i needed ill keep you all posted on the outcome i love my snake and i just want to make sure she is happy. thanks again...stacy:D

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Originally Posted by stacy5150

Is it ok to use a day light that stays on for 10 hours and then shut off with no light at night for 8 hours ive just been reading about lighting and i have not been using any light at night but ive read something about a blue light at night. How important is this? stacy:colbert:

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If you are using a day light bulb in your set up that is for instance, 75 watts, then you should us a 50 watt night bulb which is either dark blue or red. If using 100W day, use 75W night. If using 50W day, use 40W night. This will get you the desired night drop and it will keep the night time temps in a good range. ;)

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Originally Posted by _BoidFinatic_

If you are using a day light bulb in your set up that is for instance, 75 watts, then you should us a 50 watt night bulb which is either dark blue or red. If using 100W day, use 75W night. If using 50W day, use 40W night. This will get you the desired night drop and it will keep the night time temps in a good range. ;)

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you dont need any type of night drop, there's no need for day bulbs, and bulbs suck out humidity. you'd be much better off with using flexwatt or some other form of a UTH on a thermostat set to 92 degrees warm side day AND night.

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This will get you the desired night drop and it will keep the night time temps in a good range.

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Why would you want a night drop, unless your breeding there is no real reason for a night drop. I have all my snakes on a thermastat that stays within the degree night or day. Stability is the key.

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Originally Posted by greenmonkey51

Why would you want a night drop, unless your breeding there is no real reason for a night drop. I have all my snakes on a thermastat that stays within the degree night or day. Stability is the key.

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It works for me and I have yet to come across an article about any snake that doesn't reccommend a night time drop. I am not saying that it it necessary, but there is no harm in it and after all, it is natural in all seasons.

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Originally Posted by mr~python

you dont need any type of night drop, there's no need for day bulbs, and bulbs suck out humidity. you'd be much better off with using flexwatt or some other form of a UTH on a thermostat set to 92 degrees warm side day AND night.

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If this person chooses to use bulbs, then that is their choice and I am only suggesting the method that I personally have success with.

gotcha.;)

ive used both methods and im telling him what works the easiest, cheapest and best altogether.

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Originally Posted by stacy5150

Is it ok to use a day light that stays on for 10 hours and then shut off with no light at night for 8 hours ive just been reading about lighting and i have not been using any light at night but ive read something about a blue light at night. How important is this? stacy:colbert:

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theres only 18 hours in your days??? no way :eek:

the planet where i come from has 24!



:p

i strongly suggest a good thermostat or at least a dimmer!

proper setup and temps is vital for success with ball pythons. once the setup is correct and provides their needs, balls are easy!

i know setups,flexwatt,thermostats all cost and are not cheap. but they are needed in most cases to get the temps right. RI's and vet visits aren't cheap either:eek:


vaughn

oh my god i didn't mean to start something i just needed some help . So i went to walmart to get the thermostat and of course could not find one anywhere looked all over asked about 10 people they all said never seen one hear. So then i went over to the pet store and got the under tank heater set that up and also got the digital thermo-hygrometer but since i could not get a thermostat im affraid that the heater under the tank might get to hot for her since i have no ideal what the temp is now so i put extra aspen bedding down so hopefully it will not get to hot until i find the thermo. so i should just not have the light on top any longer? and use a 50w blue or red bulb? let me know thanks stacy:snake:

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Originally Posted by stacy5150

oh my god i didn't mean to start something i just needed some help . So i went to walmart to get the thermostat and of course could not find one anywhere looked all over asked about 10 people they all said never seen one hear. So then i went over to the pet store and got the under tank heater set that up and also got the digital thermo-hygrometer but since i could not get a thermostat im affraid that the heater under the tank might get to hot for her since i have no ideal what the temp is now so i put extra aspen bedding down so hopefully it will not get to hot until i find the thermo. so i should just not have the light on top any longer? and use a 50w blue or red bulb? let me know thanks stacy:snake:

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The thing at wal-mart isn't a thermostat. If you want a thermostat, you'll have to get one online at mgreptiles.com, beanfarm.com, etc.

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Originally Posted by stacy5150

oh my god i didn't mean to start something i just needed some help . So i went to walmart to get the thermostat and of course could not find one anywhere looked all over asked about 10 people they all said never seen one hear. So then i went over to the pet store and got the under tank heater set that up and also got the digital thermo-hygrometer but since i could not get a thermostat im affraid that the heater under the tank might get to hot for her since i have no ideal what the temp is now so i put extra aspen bedding down so hopefully it will not get to hot until i find the thermo. so i should just not have the light on top any longer? and use a 50w blue or red bulb? let me know thanks stacy:snake:

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Thermostats are bought from the internet.

www.reptilebasics.com

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Originally Posted by stacy5150

Is it ok to use a day light that stays on for 10 hours and then shut off with no light at night for 8 hours ive just been reading about lighting and i have not been using any light at night but ive read something about a blue light at night. How important is this? stacy:colbert:

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To me its important to stimulate an natural environment, thus stimulating natural daylight for the snake. I use 1 heating lamp and 1 heating pad. Lamps on at day to provide "sun" light and off at night but heating pad goes on then to provide her needed warmth :) I personally do not like red or blue lamps... They seem to not be able to keep a large tank warm.. cools off to quickly... with a light bulb that lights up but also creates 90degrees of heat for the hot side is perfect for daytime use:) Careful though, with those, your snakes humidity is sucked right out so you must spray the tank several times a day. But make sure you snake is under her hide or she may can RI.

im sorry i didn't mean to say thermostat i meant dimmer i guess they were out of them so i will go look tom. somewhere else.

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Originally Posted by stacy5150

im sorry i didn't mean to say thermostat i meant dimmer i guess they were out of them so i will go look tom. somewhere else.

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The dimmer switch we talk about can be found at Home Depot or Lowes or other hardware stores like that. (In the Lamp/lighting dept. usually)

so should i worry about the temps tonight with the uth on now?

Judy are you still there?:oops:

She's online but not viewing this thread. :P

IMO, you could leave the UTH on for tonight. Make sure he/she cannot come into contact with it so it cannot get burned.

thanks i keep checking on her and feeling the the area where she is laying it just scares me that she will move the bedding around and burn her self on the glass ! stacy:O

Sorry, I just got back to this thread just now.


I'm not 100% sure what you're asking, but it seems as if you're asking if you should leave an unregulated UTH on overnight tonight. I know you're probably done for the night already or something, 'cause it's late most places...but I'll weigh in anyhow.

If it were me, I'd NOT leave an unregulated UTH on. I'd turn the home heater on if I had to, to keep the room temps from dropping too low in the night...but if you can keep the ambient temps in the mid-upper 70's for the night, I think that'd be a lot safer than risking serious burns to your snake. Then ASAP get yourself SOME method of regulating that UTH, even if its just a lamp dimmer from Home Depot.

I also had a question about head.. I have an UTH, but I dont think thats keeps the tank warm enough because my Bp just stay where the UTH is at, what else can I use to help keep my tank at 90 degrees?

Heat** ..sorry

I have a UTH for my bp...but he only stays where the heater is, I know the rest of the tank is too cold . What can I use to help keep the rest of the tank warmer?

An overhead lamp (red or black bulb or CHE) will help with your ambient temps.