Maintaining heat in Ball Python enclosure

[Robbo]

Hey guys, i have just recently picked up my first BP,

Its been in the cage for a couple of days now, it seems to be happy, however at night the temperature drops considerably as i turn my heat lamp off.
Even though i turn my lamp of at night, i still keep my heat mat on, it just seems to do little to nothing.
Can anyone share there ideas on how to fix this problem.
Thanks.

[Tash]

Depends on what type of enclosure you're keeping it in. How low does the temp drop? Heating pads are normally just for belly heat but not so much for ambient temps.
If it's a glass tank with a screen top they are a pain for keeping temp and humidity up. I'd suggest getting a ceramic bulb. Heat without the light. Lamps tend to dry out the air so make sure your humidity is at healthy levels still as well.
And congrats on the new snake.

[Robbo]

Thank you for the reply,

I have my Python in a wooden viv with two sliding glass doors at the front of the enclosure,
i live in the UK so the temperature is in Celsius and not Fahrenheit,
It goes from about 32 degrees in the day which is around 90 degrees Fahrenheit and drops to about 24-26 at night once i have turned my lamp off.

[PitOnTheProwl]

A regulated UTH is only for a hot spot, it does not do much for ambient temperature.
You would be better to use a ceramic heat emitter instead of a heat lap and then you could leave it on 24/7.

[Tash]

You could also look into a radient heat panel that's mounted on top. And the lovely illustration above reminded me, make sure you have all your heating elements plugged into a thermostat! Very important if you don't.

[Robbo]

Thanks for your tips and i have taken it all into account.

i have just popped to the store in my lunch break to get a hygrometer and a pressure bottle spray to up the humidity, and a 24 hour red UV light so that should rid my problem of having to turn off the normal basking lamp at night. for now.

[bigSAK]

I have a glass viv with screen top. 3/4 of the screen I have covered with tin foil (layered) with the other 1/4 I have a ceramic heat bulb above it. very nice because BP's don't need or really want light so the Ceramic bulb is great for giving her the heat she needs with no light at night. She gets daylight cycles by the natural lighting of my windows and I just shut the blinds at night. The Ceramic bulb keeps my ambient at 78deg cool side and 88deg hot side with my UTH on the hot side adjusted to 90deg. Hit it with a spray bottle every few days.... humidity sits at 60% on cool side and 45% hot side. I bump it up during shed obviously.