Quote Originally Posted by Jaxx View Post
MY BP swims in his pool quite often and hangs out in his fountain as well. And he does not have mites. Any substrate that gets wet is removed the next day. And I have never had a problem with him. Not ragging on you, but just wanted to post that not all BP's are the same.
I am completely aware that not all ball pythons are the same, I am just stating that the norm behavior for a ball python is not swimming or soaking (unless breeding, low humidity, etc). I was pointing out a potential problem to someone who may not know mites even exist.

MinPin, a UTH is an under tank heater. Belly heat is more beneficial to ball pythons and most snakes in general (not all species) because it aides in digestion. Heat lamps are known to suck the humidity out of the air and generally run too hot and can cause uneven hot spots. I would suggest getting a UTH, can be found online or in most pet stores. You place the heater under the tank on the "warm" side, then get a thermostat to regulate the UTH. Thermostats can be found online easily, ranging in price. I can suggest a few to you if you like, I use three different types. UTHs without a thermostat can cause burns, which is why you will need a thermostat if you choose to switch to a UTH.