cats and Heat Lamps

[mamaofporter]

Hi
I'm looking at buying a ball python.
Is a spot light a must if there is an undertank heating pad?
I know I can get a UV light that is like a fish tank light... The shape of it anyhow... but I'm stuck on the spot light.
I have a toad in one tank already and my cats keep knocking the dome light off the tank....
Any suggestions on how to handle this???

[KMG]

That depends on the temp of the room it will be in.

[mamaofporter]

Sat the room is 78?

[Mr. Misha]

Hi and welcome. Ball pythons don't need any sort of light. Natural sunlight will do just fine.

You will need to make sure that the enclosure's ambient air is between 78-82 because the UTH (under tank heater) doesn't heat ambient air. You can use a UTH though (regulated by a thermostat ofcorse) to provide a hot spot. Hope that's not too confusing.

You can also just get a PVC enclosure and call it a day. The initial investment is a little pricey but worth the money in the long run. Here's a thread on that:
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=165571

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

[Tbrown806]

UTH can be sufficient as long as your getting the proper 88-90 warm side and 78-80 cool side. Comes down to some trial and error with your uth and a good thermostat before getting your BP.

[KMG]

If it stays around 76-85 you should be good.