heating problem

[didiobg88]

i just got a ball python and i set up his tank its a 10 gallon with a screen top... da humidty is good and all but the tank barely reaches 80...ne advice?

[Jeremy78]

*takes a deep breath*

Here what yeah need. An undertank heater that covers about a third of the bottom of the aquarium. Two hides one on the hot end one on the cold end. A thermostat. Tape the thermostat to the bottom of the heat pad. (should go glass heat pad thermostat( this is on the bottom of the aquarium)) make sure the thermostat probe is taped so it won't come off. If it comes off you will have a very very dead snake. Then let the aquarium sit for a few days well you monitor the temps on top of the glass on top of the heat pad while adjusting the thermostat. The tank won't get over 80 by itself. Also what is the humidity at? You may have to cover some of the top of the aquarium with plastic wrap or sumthing to keep the humidity steady. 80 is a good ambient but you still need a hot spot.

[didiobg88]

well this is wat i have so far...10g tank... 100w night het bulb...uv bul;b.. aspen bedding...a half log hide and a rock hide.. stick on thermoeter and a dial humidneter or how evr u spell it..and of course a watering bowl

[kilabyte]

I have a 10 gal I started with also
I bought http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products...ave_desert.php for an UTH
You need thermostat to control the heat. I use http://www.zilla-rules.com/products/...controller.htm

Note: I bought both of these things in a local reptile store and although they both work fine for a rack I plan on eventually building will use flexwatt for heat and an Herpstat thermostat.

You'll also need a digital thermometer to monitor the UTH and ambient temps. Get an accurite weather monitor at your local home depot or lowes. They run around $12-$13

Good luck

[kilabyte]

well this is wat i have so far...10g tank... 100w night het bulb...uv bul;b.. aspen bedding...a half log hide and a rock hide.. stick on thermoeter and a dial humidneter or how evr u spell it..and of course a watering bowl

Try to avoid using a bulb for heating it sucks the humidity out. BP's thrive better with UTH for digestion. They need no light at all except to tell if it is nightime to hunt or day to sleep.You can boost humidity by covering part of the screen top with a damp/wet towel.

[Jeremy78]

well this is wat i have so far...10g tank... 100w night het bulb...uv bul;b.. aspen bedding...a half log hide and a rock hide.. stick on thermoeter and a dial humidneter or how evr u spell it..and of course a watering bowl

Uh oh . I hope you don't already have the snake?

Ditch...
1) the uv light (balls don't need it)
2) the heat bulb (the aquairum will be hard enough to keep humidity steady)
3) the half log hide (balls like to feel secure, one entrance.)

Get...

1) another rock hide
2) an under tank heater (uth) that covers 1/3 of the bottom of the aquarium.
3) a thermostat (it controls the het output on the uth)

this will cost you about 40-50 bucks.

[didiobg88]

i dnt have da snake yet... also how do those temp controlers work? but having the uth is dat going to heat up da tank or just da one side?

[Vypyrz]

You can try covering most of the screen top with aluminum foil, aluminum tape or a piece of plexiglass. This will help hold in humidity and some of the warmer air. Also you can get some foam board from places like Wal-Mart or Target, in the school supplies section near the poster board, and cover 3 sides of the tank. This will help insulate it some. I also recommend a digital thermometer. The stick-on ones are notorious for giving bad readings. Also, the thermometers should be placed at the bottom of the enclosure, where the snake spends most of its time, not high up on the side...

[Jeremy78]

Also ditch the stick on thermometer. You can get an accurite weather station from wal mart for like 8-15 bucks.

[angllady2]

Ok, forgive me if I am missing something, but are you saying the ambient temperature in the tank is 80 ? Or are you measuring the temperature where the snake would be if it was in there ?

I am sorry to say, most of what you have is not going to be useful to a ball python at all. If you still have your receipt, take the stuff back.

Try not to use any lamps of any kind, they suck your humidity up like a sponge, and balls don't need them anyway. For heat, get a UTH and a thermostat to regulate it.

Those thermometers are utterly useless for a ball. The stick on type is designed to measure the temps of water in an aquarium. The dial type are just plain inaccurate. Go to Wal-Mart or Lowe's and go into the section where they sell outdoor thermometers and buy an Accurite brand digital weather station. They are around $12.

Get rid of the half log hide, balls HATE those things. If you want cheap and ball approved, get some dark blue plastic cereal bowls from the dollar store, turn one upside down and cut a little door in it. Otherwise, get another rock-cave type.

Now, as far as ambient temperature, or the air inside the tank, 75-80 is fine, average room temperature. Where you put the UTH under one end of the tank, place the knob that is attached to the wire on the Accurite directly on the glass INSIDE the tank over top the UTH. This will tell you how warm the UTH is getting. Place the probe thingy attached to the thermostat against the UTH OUTSIDE the tank. This is how you will keep the UTH from getting too hot. You'll want the thermometer to read about 90-92 for the warm spot where you will place a hide for your snake. The other end can stay at 80 or so. If you keep your house very cool in summer, you might need two UTH.

In order to keep the humidity up in a glass tank with a screen top, you'll need to partially cover the screen. Either with foil, or even a piece of plexiglas. You only need to leave about 2-3 inches of screen open for ventilation.


Best of luck getting things ready!

Gale