heating for my ball python?

[wspeer]

i recently got a ball python that is around 30 inches long so hes a little over a year is what i was told, im confused on the heating situation for my new friend, should i put my heat lamp on the same side of the cage as the uth is on or on the oppisite side?? thanks for any suggestions.

[daniel1983]

It really does not matter where the heating elements are placed.....you just need to position them so that you have tempertures of 80-82 on the cool side, and 92-94 on the warm side.

Personally, I would try to do away with the heat lamp if possible. They suck all the humidity out of the enclosure.

[wspeer]

i wouldn't mind getting rid of the heat lamp but i dont think i could get my temps that high with out it. its cold in kansas this time of year. any other ideas on how to heat the cage or position the heating elements? thanks for the help

[daniel1983]

What are your tempertures like now? How is your enclosure setup? What type of enclosure? Etc. The more you describe your setup the easier it will be for everyone to help out....oh ya....we love pictures too

[wspeer]

What i have right now is a 20 long with two hides one over the UTH the other placed on the opposite side where i have the heat lamp. i have a water dish on both sides and a plant in the middle of the cage with a rock bottom for shedding. i have just a mulch type of stuff from the pet store as my bedding, right now the side with the uth is 75 (air temp) and the side with the lamp is currently 95, im not sure what the temp of the ground above the UTH but its warm to the touch. that said i am currently in the process of building a custom cage that will be 40Lx20Wx15H it will have a class front and a screen top for my heat lamp and i will have a UTH in there somehow. but right now im only worried about my 20L i can mess with my other cage when its fully assembeled. thanks for the help.

[Sausage]

You need to pull the cool side up about 5-7 degrees... I'd give the lamp a shot.

[wspeer]

a second lower wattage heat bulb? those temps are with the heat lamp

[daniel1983]

I don't think you need any more bulbs.

Have you tried covering the screen top any? Since heat rises, all the warmth is going up and out of the enclosure. On the side opposite of your lamp, cover half of the side with aluminum foil. That will trap temps in a little better. Just make sure to keep an eye on those temps for a few hours just incase they skyrocket

What you using to measure temperture?

[wspeer]

i shoulda thought of that im just using a digital thermom its an indoor outdoor so i have the outdoor deal on my hot side and the indoor unit on my cool side. i will try and cover it and see what that does for me. thanks for the help

[daniel1983]

i shoulda thought of that im just using a digital thermom its an indoor outdoor so i have the outdoor deal on my hot side and the indoor unit on my cool side. i will try and cover it and see what that does for me. thanks for the help

That type of thermometer is great. I would definately give covering the top a bit a shot then....let us know how it works out ...and after you put the cover on definately keep an eye on those temps until they stabilize.