Ball Python Question

[AnnieHeart]

Hey all!

I have a few ball python questions, I made a list. :)

1) My thermostat ( Zilla ) is arriving in the mail today, and I was wondering how you guys have set yours for your ball pythons?

2) What do you guys think is the best way to measure a hide for a ball python? I don't know yet how big my ball python will be, but I want to know so that I can quickly buy the right size when I know I'll be adopting.

3) What size enclosure would you say is appropriate for an adult ball python? 20g,30g,40g?

Thank you, everyone! :)

[MD_Pythons]

I have the thermostat probe sandwitched in between my UTH and my enclosure. Like so. And I believe a 40gal breeder is sufficient for an adult BP.

[AnnieHeart]

I have the thermostat probe sandwitched in between my UTH and my enclosure. Like so. And I believe a 40gal breeder is sufficient for an adult BP.

Pictures are always so helpful! My heat mat is zoomed which is stuck to the glass, what do you think of putting it in the substrate directly above the heat mat?

[MD_Pythons]

That's not the best idea, your snake could easily move the probe away from the heat source which would cause the heat source to run full throttle and potentially raise temps high enough to burn or cause other damage to your snake. Luckily there are ways to remove UTHs, and they can be affixed with foil tape and reused.

[MissterDog]

That's not the best idea, your snake could easily move the probe away from the heat source which would cause the heat source to run full throttle and potentially raise temps high enough to burn or cause other damage to your snake. Luckily there are ways to remove UTHs, and they can be affixed with foil tape and reused.

Adding to the this; Don’t forget pee and poop! Ball pythons frankly don’t care where they relieve themselves and if that happens to be on the thermostat probe, that can also cause dangerous temperature spikes.

[slseals1969]

I taped mine to the outside of the heat mat. You would need to measure the actual temp of the glass on the inside and possibly adjust your setting but it works fine.

Sent from my LG-H910 using Tapatalk

[AnnieHeart]

That's not the best idea, your snake could easily move the probe away from the heat source which would cause the heat source to run full throttle and potentially raise temps high enough to burn or cause other damage to your snake. Luckily there are ways to remove UTHs, and they can be affixed with foil tape and reused.

Even though it will be buried in the substrate below, not on top of the substrate?

[MissterDog]

Even though it will be buried in the substrate below, not on top of the substrate?

Keep in mind ball pythons can burrow and it’s no difficulty for them to push or dig through substrate when they are determined enough. This is why it’s reccomemded to measure surface temperatures under your susbstrate on the glass floor (with a temp gun) and not above substrate.

and of course as mentioned earlier, urine and feces is a nasty thing, urine especially can easily soak through substrate and mess with readings.

[AnnieHeart]

Keep in mind ball pythons can burrow and it’s no difficulty for them to push or dig through substrate when they are determined enough. This is why it’s reccomemded to measure surface temperatures under your susbstrate on the glass floor (with a temp gun) and not above substrate.

and of course as mentioned earlier, urine and feces is a nasty thing, urine especially can easily soak through substrate and mess with readings.

Ok, that makes sense, thank you for explaining.

[Craiga 01453]

Yeah, the others are right. The probe goes outside the tank sandwiched between the UTH and the glass.
The probe inside will eventually be moved, peed on, etc... which can cause inaccurate readings and which could lead to dangerous heat spikes.

A 40 gallon breeder is big enough for an adult BP.

As for the hides, if you go too big you can always clutter up the inside to make the snake feel more secure. My BP, Tyson, has a huge RBI hide in his enclosure that I cluttered up and he's uses it regularly.