Some quick questions for first BP

[ds1091]

I just got my first ball python who is a male pastel about a month old. I have him set up in a 10 gallon aquarium. I am using a ZooMed 10-20 gallon UTH setup to a hydrofarm thermostat set at 97 degrees to get the top of the bedding around 90 degrees. Im using a little less then a half inch of cypress mulch to keep the humidity up and I have a 50 watt red heat lamp to warm the air temperature because my house is around 65 degrees in the winter. I have 2 identical hides with a large water dish. I just have a few quick questions. Even with the heat pad set to 97 and not much bedding if I turn the heat lamp off the top of the substrate drops to around the low 80's. Should I keep the lamp on even at night? Some care sheets say a drop in night temps and some do not recommend it. Also is 50 watts sufficient for a 10 gallon aquarium with a UTH? Or should I bump the wattage up? And also I have a humidity question. With the heat lamp on the humidity drops down to 40-50% but as soon as the lamp goes off with just the heat pad running it rises to 60-70%. I have more then half the screen lid covered with foil to keep heat and humidity in. The problem is my house is dry from the heat running and kind of chilly because of the climate right now. I just got him yesterday and I want to make sure his setup is stable. Any input will be greatly appreciated!

[PitOnTheProwl]

Sounds like you are on the right track.
As you have found out, the light will kill your humidity too.
What are you using to check your temps and humidity?
You can also put the largest water bowl that you can under the lamp, this will help raise your humidity.

[Kaorte]

What kind of thermometers are you using? This can have a big impact on what the temps actually are as some thermometers are very inaccurate.

[ds1091]

Im using a Accurite with the probe on the glass above the UTH, which is at 97 degrees on the glass and if I move it on top of the substrate in the hide is around 90 degrees. On top of the hide above the lamp is about 95 degrees The device itself is on the cool side with a temperature that fluctuates between 77 and 82 degrees. And i already mentioned humidity jumping around. If I stick the device to the glass near the top screen on the cool side humidity drops very low (around 40%) and if I put it resting above the substrate it seems just right. How do you guys set up your accurites? My ball python loves climbing on it no matter where I place it. Do you guys remove the adhesive? Thanks!

[TROYG]

I have three tanks set up and all the rest of my BP are in tubs. I have a constant battle trying to juggle temps and humidity with the tanks as I am sure everyone in a colder climate does. My suggestion is to switch over to tubs to make your life easier. I know someone will disagree with me, but it makes regulating everything so much easier. I have to build another rack and then my other 3 will go in as well. Otherwise, you seem to be on the right track with everything. You just have to be careful your light does not cook the little guy, those things can kick off a lot of heat. Use a temp gun and be diligent about checking temps. You could spend the money on a Herstat and that way when you get more BP, and you will(they are like potatoe chips you can't just have one) and decide on a rack you will have one of your best assets besides your snakes.

[ds1091]

Before i went away to college i had about 8 snakes; all corn, milk and kings. They were all in racks with flexwatt for over 7 years and i really struggled with heating. My house is just to cold for just belly heat. I also tried tubs with results not much better. Setting the UTH or other belly heat sources to 95 just does not heat the air enough and raising it more risks burns. Most of those snakes were from dry, cool areas similar to my climate. I really think i need a heat lamp or another source for a tropical species like the Ball Python. Anyways, if i mount my accurite to the substrate will the moisture ruin it? And one last question, can misting cause RI's? I never misted snake enclosures before since all my previous snakes i had 2 years ago did not have humidity requirements. Should i just stick to spraying the cypress mulch here and there, or add some damp moss to one of the two hides? Thanks!

[ewaldrep]

To help with humidity, I place a wet hand towel and cover a large section of the screen and it seem to keep my humidity around 50 and I spray when it is getting close to shedding time. I plan on getting a PVC cage ASAP because I am tired of messing with humidity and trying to keep the heat in and still let me have a viewable environment with goodies for her to play on. Hope you find what works for you!

[PitOnTheProwl]

They were all in racks with flexwatt for over 7 years and i really struggled with heating. My house is just to cold for just belly heat.

I really think i need a heat lamp or another source for a tropical species like the Ball Python.

Belly heat is not intended to heat the ambient air even though it does slightly.
You can anlways run a dual set up for belly heat, one on the "hot side" with a t-stat set to get the surface temp to 95ish and then the other on the "cool side" with another stat set to get the surface temp to low 80s.


BTW I didnt know Africa was tropical

[ds1091]

Belly heat is not intended to heat the ambient air even though it does slightly.
You can anlways run a dual set up for belly heat, one on the "hot side" with a t-stat set to get the surface temp to 95ish and then the other on the "cool side" with another stat set to get the surface temp to low 80s.

BTW I didnt know Africa was tropical

When i used to breed my other snakes a 80 degree cool end is too warm. Corns and kings prefer 88 for a warm side, 70-75 for a cool side. A little different from a BP. If my racks were housing ball pythons your theory would be s good thermal gradient for them but i sold those racks years ago so until i get more ball pythons im sticking to a glass tank

And I shouldnt have used "tropical" but there no where near a temperate climate like the US. All my other snakes would have a hot spot lower then a BP and night/cool side room temperature with no ill effects. Ball pythons come from a region where it is not desert nor rainforest, more grasslands. The temperature there remains warm pretty much day and night besides some exceptions. Warming a BP is alot diffferent from corns and kings who would remain under the aspen above the UTH. The challenge now is warming through the bedding where the BP is laying on to get a 90-95 hot spot without burns.

[PitOnTheProwl]

The challenge now is warming through the bedding where the BP is laying on to get a 90-95 hot spot without burns.

No. They can move the bedding and if the glass is over 95ish you can cook your snake. Dont over think it, just make sure whatever they can touch isnt too hot.