It will be fine especially if you get the shelf. The shelf will add a dark strip on the cage floor that most of my snakes like to use a hide. The lighting isnt bad though. None of my snakes seem to care about it. I feel you need to give snakes or any animal a day/night light cycle. And as long as you are offering hides and with a shelf, the snake has plenty of places to get 'shade' if wanted.