Question on buying a "hood" for my BP's terrarium.(Advice please)

[JLC]

Now I am reading a lot about how BP's hate large enclosures, However mine seems to cruise around the tank a lot some times she will lay around out of her hollow log hide, she is really comfortable in her tank.

The fact that ball pythons tend to prefer smaller enclosures over large ones is a general guideline and not a hard-and-fast fact. IF your snake were not thriving and was constantly refusing food or showing other signs of stress, the size of your enclosure might be something you'd want to look into. However, if she is eating well and thriving and you're able to maintain the proper environment in such a large tank, then that is terrific! Yours sounds like a beautiful enclosure.

[cinderbird]

I have never heard of a debate on UV light with ball pythons. They are nocturnal. Nocturnal animals do not require additional or supplemental lighting. (Think about it, where would an animal that is only out at night get its special light?) Animals like bearded dragons obviously need supplemental and special lighting. We know this because they can't properly absorb calcium and other vitamins and minerals when raised without proper lighting. Ball pythons (and other nocturnal critters) do not have this problem.

Balls don't benefit from supplemental lighting and if there is an effect on them it is almost always more harmful than beneficial; stress because of constant light exposure, burns, improper humidity, etc.

Not trying to rock the boat here, just offering my learnings.