Heating Pad

[i like snakes]

my friend says a ball python can live without a heating pad but i say it cant. Can someone answer this for me?

[pavlovk1025]

Hmm...well it can't live without a heat pad in the sense that it can not thrive unless proper temps are maintained, and unless you live in Florida with no A/c then you NEED a heat pad, or rather a heating element of sorts. If you mean it can't live without an under tank heat pad, then you're wrong. UTH's are recommended because belly heat aids in digestion, but your snake can thrive with radiant back heat as well.

[i like snakes]

Hmm...well it can't live without a heat pad in the sense that it can not thrive unless proper temps are maintained, and unless you live in Florida with no A/c then you NEED a heat pad, or rather a heating element of sorts. If you mean it can't live without an under tank heat pad, then you're wrong. UTH's are recommended because belly heat aids in digestion, but your snake can thrive with radiant back heat as well.

Well i live in las vegas so if the only heat source was a heating lamp the BP could live?

[pavlovk1025]

Well i live in las vegas so if the only heat source was a heating lamp the BP could live?

I think I said it wrong. If you can maintain the temps of ambient air ~86 degrees, basking spot 88-94 degrees and a cool side of 78-84, then you don't need the heat pad. But if your room is a cool 72 or so with the A/c on, then no you're probably gonna want an UTH to maintain proper temps. At the end of the day, that's all it is...maintaining temps. Doesn't matter how, as long as they are constant. Most folks with tanks will use a UTH+CHE, or a UTH+Day/Night bulb.

[Kaorte]

I think belly heat is a more reliable than overhead heat (lamps). I think if you had to choose one over the other, you should choose a UTH. I wouldn't put a BP in a tank with no heat source though.

[blackcrystal22]

Yes.
Ball pythons need a form of belly heat to properly digest their food. They will not bask in the heat lamp and will loose proper heat for digestion through hiding (which all balls need to do to be stress-free).
They need a good heat gradient (warm side 90-95F and cool side 80-85F) which is nearly impossible with out a UTH.

Heat lamps also suck out desired humidity from a bps tank. I recommend using a good UTH with a thermostat (you need something to control it) for a ball python with no heat lamp. A viewing lamp is fine if there is low wattage bulb and it's turned off at night.