Black Light??

Hello... Ive been lurking for a while now and finally took the plunge into membership!!

I have a BP (got him in August) and he's in a 55gal glass tank. Ive been having difficulties with the temperature and humidity...

Tomorrow is extensive work on the tank day.... painting the back black and lining with foil and foam-board for insulation... also building a fountain

I have a UTH and rheostat on order and arriving shortly...

My boy uses both sides of the tank like clock-work....

My question is this....

Would a black light that mimicks moonlight be beneficial for a bit more added warmth during the night??? And if so, which side should it be located on?

Thank You!!

Well, first off I'm going to say what many here will: a 55g tank is way too tall and a bit too big for any but an adult female BP.

That said, you should make sure you have the screen top treated with either foil or thick plastic to hold in heat and humidity.
Lamps can be used for ambient temp boosts, and the best bulbs IMO are the moonlight blue since red gets hotter and brighter and black turns the whole room purple...but make sure the lamp is raised at least 8-12" above the top of the tank and that you're using no more than a 60w bulb. Any higher and you'll be baking the moisture right out.
Try to locate the lamp centrally, but a bit closer to the warm side to preserve the gradient.

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Originally Posted by Argentra

the best bulbs IMO are the moonlight blue since red gets hotter and brighter and black turns the whole room purple

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I purchased an exo-terra "blue moonlight" bulb and, to me at least, can't tell any difference between it and a regular purple-ish blacklight. Anyone know of a blue moonlight that is actually blue? I took the exo-terra one back because it it cost way more than a regular blacklight and seems to be exactly the same thing.

What are you using for heat right now while you are waiting for a UTH and dimmer? Lights or CHE? What do the temps go to at night with no supplementary blacklight for heat? I put my red nightlight at an angle with most light over the hide and angled so some also goes over the rest of the enclosure.

I know there are blue, 25w "party bulbs that are really blue, and not purple, but 25w wouldn't do much for a 55g tank.

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Originally Posted by simplechamp

I purchased an exo-terra "blue moonlight" bulb and, to me at least, can't tell any difference between it and a regular purple-ish blacklight.

What are you using for heat right now while you are waiting for a UTH and dimmer? Lights or CHE? What do the temps go to at night with no supplementary blacklight for heat?

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Thank you for your response!! (Sorry for all of the noobness & ???'s :weirdface)

I am using a light dome with clear bulb 100 watt and the black (I guess it really is "blue") light is the Exo-Terra 75watt Moonlight bulb. I got up around 3:00am to check on him and he stayed under the blue light, which is abnormal becuase he usually goes to his hide and foilage at night.

(I know are way too low) Temps are running an average of 70-75 at night and 75-80 during the day. Humidity is averaging 55-60

He just finished his first shed and I did have to give a few baths to remove the rest of the skin.... I bought Sphagnum moss today to put in and near his hide. (I read Im supposed to microwave it first to kill any mites... if this is true how long do I nuke it for?)


Also have a ?? regarding the outside lining. If I paint the glass black can I put aluminum and then the foam-board on the outside of it for additional insulation?

His high temp is 80?

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Originally Posted by uafgrad

His high temp is 80?

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Yes... As I said in the other post, I know this is too LOW....

Working on getting it corrected!!

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Originally Posted by SYNNDAKAT

I got up around 3:00am to check on him and he stayed under the blue light, which is abnormal becuase he usually goes to his hide and foilage at night.

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i would say its because he needs the heat. your temps are too low. you need to increase it asap before he gets a respiratory infection.. Is the top of the tank covered or is it just a screen lid? Too much heat is escaping.

Richard

I just bought a 48 gal long that sits 17" tall. I am working on slowly moving my BP into that as well. To keep up your temps try the following

1) make the lid out of plexglass, and cut holes for you heat lamps to fit in preventing as little heat escape as possible, make sure you put wire mesh under the lamps to prevent burns

2) A UTH should keep your temperature high enough, make sure you are taking your temperatures inside the dens, as the temperature inside a den on top of a UTH can be more up to 10 degrees hotter than outside.

3) I have 2 red lights heating a 48 gal. long right now, one 75 and one 100 I think, and they both work failry well to maintin daytime temperatures at 81 and 85 outside the hides give or take 3 degrees, and inside the hide on the hot side 93 give or take 3 degrees.

4) Another trick is if you 55 Gal. is not a long tank (in other words failry tall + 17") when you do work to it, give home 3-4 dens, place two dens, part way up the tank on say a second floor, this will put him clooser to the heat lamps.

Also, you mentioned a water fall, ive been trygin to thikn of different ways to do this, and I was wonderig hwat your plan is?

so is it actually bad to have a small b.p in a big tank???????
since someone said a 55 gall is too big....
too me thats like saying a mansion is too big for one person, maybe so, but is it detrimental to his health??

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Originally Posted by ERP

so is it actually bad to have a small b.p in a big tank???????
since someone said a 55 gall is too big....
too me thats like saying a mansion is too big for one person, maybe so, but is it detrimental to his health??

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it can be stressful if there are not enough places to hide. with lots of fake plants and hides the snake will love it. The hardest part of a large tank is keeping the humidity high enough.

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Originally Posted by ride_gnu

Another trick is if you 55 Gal. is not a long tank (in other words failry tall + 17") when you do work to it, give home 3-4 dens, place two dens, part way up the tank on say a second floor, this will put him clooser to the heat lamps.

Also, you mentioned a water fall, ive been trygin to thikn of different ways to do this, and I was wonderig hwat your plan is?

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good points about the 2nd story den!! :gj:

Here is the link for the waterfall that Skirrl (sp?) posted. It looked pretty simple!! Getting the supplies for it tomorrow!

Do you have any other waterfall diagrams or links that you could share?

Sorry, where is the link?

I've been lookign around, there is a decent amount about waterfalls on this site, I just searched the forums for waterfalls. But I am still trying to decide how to make one that is as sanitary as possible.

Im thinking abot going for a solid back peice agasint the rear of the tank and have the water flow down into a removable water dish, that was it an be removed for cleaning. I am still not sure how to create a back peice that is 100% water proof and easily sanitized.

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Originally Posted by ride_gnu

Sorry, where is the link?

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Oops Im sorry.. I copied it and then forgot to paste it...:weirdface



http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=77116

Yeah I checked that one out and PM'd the guy to see if he had any regrets now that its been a while since he built it and if he had any tips or things eh woudl change, no response yet.

I tried black lights a couple of times (thus the reason that I now have about 5 in my closet that will never be used)
They were 60w and got WAYYYY too hot compared to all others that I tried

We now just use aqua party style bulbs in 40w - they were on sale at a local store for .99/ea so we bought a bunch. They give off a bluish green glow not very bright in a dark room and give off enough heat to just help out in the center of the viv to provide a better gradient.