Lights or UTH

AHOY all
New to the forum i am from SUNNY South africa
just wanted to know what the majority of Ball Python owners use to heat there enclosures...
UTH or Lights

Irie

UTH. Because snakes need the warmth from the ground to warm themselves up.

Where's the both option?

I use flex watt so I guess that's sort of like the UTH option! I wouldn't use lights because they suck the humidity right out and I live in a very dry place. Also, I feel that belly heat is the right thing for royal pythons since they spend their time on the ground and need the heat for digestion.
And, :welcome: !!!! We're glad you're here!! :D

Ahoy
Thanks for the welcome as far as the 3rd option i have no idea how to add another option
any HELP would be great.....
cheers

UTH's and flexwatt are the best heating options for most snakes because they are terrestrial and get their heat from below (sunning on asphalt or rocks is more about absorbing the rock heat than the sun).

However, many of us who cannot afford to keep the room our snakes live in at 80 use lights as supplemental heat. As long as the lamp is at least 8" above the cage top, the heat won't be too high and it won't kill your humidity. :)

Agreed. The infrared 75w I got running 24/7 in the middle of the tank keeps it at 85. Cool side 78 and the hot side 93 so I feel that creates a pretty awesome heat gradient. And sorry I didn't say it before but :welcome: to the most addicting place ever!

This place is very addictive. :D

I use two UTH's and one 75w moonlight bulb 24/7. The moonlight bulb is mostly for display purposes, but it also adds a few degrees of ambient temp.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brixton

Ahoy
Thanks for the welcome as far as the 3rd option i have no idea how to add another option
any HELP would be great.....
cheers

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Hi,

Added third option for you - Pm any member of staff if you would like anything else changed or added. :gj:


dr del

Flexwatt is the only way to go. Coupled with a good thermostat, it is safe and the energy bills are inexpensive. It's also my opinion that snakes will digest their food better with belly heat vs. heat from above (bulb).

Welcome!!! :)


I use UTHs as my heat source for my snakes as well. When one of mine was in a tank, I used a light just to bring up the ambient a little, but I did not leave mine on all the time, just used when necessary.

Sawubona Brixton, Unjani baba?

Welcome, I'm also a SA boy, based in Northgate and I got my first BP just over a week ago.

I've got a UTH under my tank and a auto-thermostat which keeps the warm side temps at 32C with a 1C variance on either side. Works very well.

From what I've read I'd agree with what the other members here say, get your heat coming up through the bottom of the cage. BP are almost exclusively ground dwellers so that's the best place to have the heat.

I am forced to use both a CHE and UTH on the hot side, for some reason my UTH won't hit 90 by itself...weird

Does anyone know anything about radiant heat panels?? can they be used by itself for a hot side? meaning just that and no UTH or CHE

I use UTH for my balls, pretty much for the same reasons everyone else stated already. Belly heat v. overhead heat is more beneficial for nocturnal herps i think.

Neither - I use a radiant heat panel :)

I use a 75watt infared bulb in the center of the tank. I then have 2 UTH's..one on the coolside & one on the warmside. Both are controlled by Herpstats. :D

I use 2 UTH's and 75 watt infared bulb (day only)/ blue moonglow (night only), both the lights are mounted like pennant lights so I can raise and lower each if I need to adjust the ambient temps. They normally hang 8-10 inches above the tank, except when we have cooler nights I lower them. I doubt I will use the lights at all during the summer.

Oh, by the way :welcome:

I use UTH now, but I used to use the lamps. My opinion is that the UTH are easier to use with a thermostat and the lights are easier to adjust without a thermostat. I do like the ambient light given off of a heat lamp though.

Learning how to heat enclosures properly without lights was the single biggest breakthrough for me in keeping snakes. And my snakes all seem so much happier without the lights. Plus no humidity problems, and no misting!!!