Humidity and Night time Temp/ Night

[KahleenB]

Hello All!

I have to say I am absolutely loving this forum, you guys have been an amazing help!

We just got our Genetic Stripe ball python yesterday and he is an absolute gem. He is very confident and seems very happy.

With previous advice we will be leaving him to get used to his home for a week or so and will not be handling him.

Last night the temperature got down to around 68 degrees ambient (we bought a heating pad to use at night and a light to use during the day). The light keeps a great temperature for him but we heard that keeping the light on 24/7 will just stress him out. So today we are gonna purchase a UV light/ nighttime light. Is this the best option for nighttime heating? The heating pad doesn't seem to be keeping him warm enough. ** additional information we are at the bottom of an apartment so it is cooler down here**

In addition the guy at the reptile place we bought him from said that ball pythons like their tanks to be absolutely bone dry and to ignore what carebooks and stuff will say. But we have been browsing the site and it seems as though he DOES need humidity, especially when he is shedding (which he is currently). We are getting alot of mixed signals between the pet store and these forums. So any additional information/ help would be greatly appreciated

[JoshSloane]

First off, pet store guy is completely wrong. Ball pythons require humidity to be at least 60-70% for optimal health, shedding, etc. A good idea is to not take advice from people in pet stores.

Second, some people night drop their temps, but personally I just maintain constant temps from day to night. To achieve this you can use ceramic heating elements in place of the light bulbs for constant heat that doesn't produce light. Or you can use an infrared bulb that gives off very little light, and use it at both day and night.

Third, do you mean that the ambient temps in your house get down to 68 at night, or the temps in the cage get down to 68 at night? High sixties is ok for the room temps, as long as the ambient temps are higher in the cage.

[KahleenB]

Thank you for the reply!

It went down to around 68 (then went back up to 70) in the tank last night. Which we know is MUCH to low. So we are currently heading to get a nighttime light to keep the guy warm.

[JoshSloane]

Yeah. 80 degrees is the sweet spot that most people shoot for. If you can get into the upper seventies all is well. Keep in mind though that you want to measure the ambient temps at snake height, where the snake will be spending its time. A good thermometer with a probe accomplishes this. You also want to be taking hot and cool spot temps with an infrared gun.

[KahleenB]

Do you have a thermostat brand that you would recommend?

[DennisM]

Do you have a thermostat brand that you would recommend?

http://www.reptilebasics.com/ve-300