overhead lamp/lighting

what type of overhead lamp/bulb should i get for a ball python?

also, is it absolutely neccesary to get a humidity measuring thermometer?

Ceramic Heat Emitter... commonly refered to as CHE. It puts out no light... it is just to keep temps right. You don't need an actual light on it... they are much happier without it.... the ambient light in the room is more then enough.

i wanted to have some kind of light on it at night, nothing bright. ive heard of Moonlight bulbs, would a regular blacklight be ok to use or is it worth it to buy the moonlight bulb?

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is it absolutely neccesary to get a humidity measuring thermometer?

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In a word, yes. The Accurite thermometers available at Walmart for $12 measure an in and an out temp (aka - hot and cold side) and they measure humidity.

If your humidity is too low, you'll have bad sheds. If it's too high, you could risk scale rot, RI, etc. It's better to spend $12 and keep your snake happy and healthy. :gj:

And I agree 100% about the ceramic bulb. If you're going to do overhead lighting, the CHE is the way to go. But I will always recommend under tank heaters since that's what I use and I guess you could say I'm biased. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by TheHabit

what type of overhead lamp/bulb should i get for a ball python?

also, is it absolutely neccesary to get a humidity measuring thermometer?

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like i said in ur other thread.. i have a black light bulb and its worked just fine for me... and about the humidity measuring.. i guess its better to have one just to make sure but i dont use one and my snake has perfect sheds.. meaning it has the right humidity

I used to keep a black light on my girl at night. It didn't seem to bother her too much, and it made the tank look really neat.

Just know that black lights put out minimal heat so you'd have to leave the CHE on also, unless you plan on dropping your temps at night.

the thinf is these guys are nocturnal and they can see blacklight so it can stress them out what you want to get is a a infared bulb because they cant see infared but we can it what you see in the nocturnal house at zoos

none of my BPs have a humidity thing, but they all shed perfict, but they are all also in tubs, now my other snakes, excluding my blood have humidity things, because they are in display cages... and it takes more consentration to get humidity right...

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

And I agree 100% about the ceramic bulb. If you're going to do overhead lighting, the CHE is the way to go. But I will always recommend under tank heaters since that's what I use and I guess you could say I'm biased. :rolleyes:

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can u use a CHE and an under tank heater? or just stick to one or the other?

Just wanna make sure i do it all right the first time

edit: i was just reading the husbandry FAQs and it says to stay away from CHEs as they suck the humidity out of the air : /

i had a basking light for day time, and a UTH for night time...
i wouldnt doubt that you could do the same with a CHE...

OH
with my UTH, so when i up the cage or whatever i can still use them...
i put them on a ceramic tile and put the rubber feet that come with the UTH on the corners of the tile.
i will get a pic up asap to show you what i mean, i am using it with my Brazilian rainbow and one of my JCP's, but used it with my BPs for the longest time.

Well, like I said before, I'd always go with an UTH. They're cheaper, easier to control, and just (to me) make more sense since the snake needs heat on its stomach for better digestion.

I can't wait to see everything all set up, whichever route you choose. :D

how would a black light stress out the snake? its the least bright out of all the lights.. and my snake has been just fine with one.. you can leave it on all the time.. and you dont have to turn it on or off or switch it with another light.. you said you were gonna get a 15 gallon tank right? i use a 16 gallon and the 50 watt black light works very well for me

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Originally Posted by 51-50 Python

how would a black light stress out the snake? its the least bright out of all the lights.. and my snake has been just fine with one.. you can leave it on all the time.. and you dont have to turn it on or off or switch it with another light.. you said you were gonna get a 15 gallon tank right? i use a 16 gallon and the 50 watt black light works very well for me

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hey thats just what i read on another thread. Because they are nocturnal and they see the blacklight. When BP's are in there natural environment its ridiculously dark at nigh like cant see your hand in front of your face dark

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Originally Posted by Thor26

hey thats just what i read on another thread. Because they are nocturnal and they see the blacklight. When BP's are in there natural environment its ridiculously dark at nigh like cant see your hand in front of your face dark

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ya but that doesnt mean using a black light is gonna stress it out.. if that was the case then lights wouldent be used at all

I use a 75w infrared.

I think that I disagree about snakes not seeing the infa-red light; my snake lunges at the infa-red light anytime I move it or when I put her dinner in for her.

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Originally Posted by 51-50 Python

ya but that doesnt mean using a black light is gonna stress it out.. if that was the case then lights wouldent be used at all

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Do you have some cool posters in his cage?
That would really trip him out!
Maybe some cool termite mound posters, groovy!

Drying the air is not specific to CHE's...any light that emits heat is going to reduce the humidity.

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Just to clarify...
Are you wanting a light for heat or just to be able to see your snake?

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We use a 50 watt red light on a dimmer set at about 25% for our corns because it is so stinking cold right now (getting warmer:)) that just the UTH is not enough abd the ambient cage temp would only be 68*F without it.

I am going to get the CHE's though when these burn out.
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I personally think as a human I have no idea if the snake is 'happy' or 'stressed'...that may not become evident until it dies years too early or gets a URI although 'everything was perfect' from my own assessment.
Reptiles hide illness and stress as a matter of self preservation.
We often have trouble getting them 'back to health' because by the time symptoms are apparent the animal is quite ill.

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To the idea that these bulbs are inherantly safe because they are sold and used is not always the case...take for example heat rocks...they are sold, bought and used...not really a good idea though.

The previous statements are my own personal opinion...best wishes with what you decide...let us see pics when it's all set up:D