Ball python lighting system help?!?!

[matt133k]

Hello,
im new to this but been viewing the forum for a while.
ive got a vivarium build on the way and come to lighting/heating, ive decided to use a night/day system,
as the area where the vivarium is, wont get much light, i know they dont depend on or need UV light but as ive got a spare slot for a bulb via my exo terra light unit, id like to use it and also for the viewing purposes,
ill be having a 200W exo terra ceramic bulb (already purchased) and a exo terra linear UV bulb, i need help on which rating to go for though, a 2.0 UV bulb or a 5.0. Help would be very much appreciated, thanks people

[kat_black181]

Hello,
im new to this but been viewing the forum for a while.
ive got a vivarium build on the way and come to lighting/heating, ive decided to use a night/day system,
as the area where the vivarium is, wont get much light, i know they dont depend on or need UV light but as ive got a spare slot for a bulb via my exo terra light unit, id like to use it and also for the viewing purposes,
ill be having a 200W exo terra ceramic bulb (already purchased) and a exo terra linear UV bulb, i need help on which rating to go for though, a 2.0 UV bulb or a 5.0. Help would be very much appreciated, thanks people

Since ball pythons don't need uv bulbs, I don't think it matters which one you get.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Welcome to the site!

I wouldn't use anything higher than a 2.0 bulb.

How big is your cage? A 200 W ceramic heat emitter likely is going to produce way too much heat (unregulated at least)

[matt133k]

Welcome to the site!

I wouldn't use anything higher than a 2.0 bulb.

How big is your cage? A 200 W ceramic heat emitter likely is going to produce way too much heat (unregulated at least)

The vivarium is about 4ft (L) by 2 1/2ft (D) by 2 1/2ft (H). I would have it controlled by a habistat thermostat, i have a large waterfall with fogger (will be programmed the give out the correct humidity)whats on the left with a habistat mini fan on the right hand vent to evenly spread the humidity. The vivarium wood is 18mm thick, with acrylic viewing window. So i thought to evenly heat the vivarium id need a 200W ceramic heater? Any information is welcomed!!.

as for the UV bulb ill be going for a 2.0 (thanks for the advice!) and that will be a 30W 36"' that will be above the viewing window so i dont get glair outside it.

oh and what do you think would be best for the substrate?, ive been looking at repti bark, as i want it natural as possible, was also considering using some kind of moss on and around the waterfall, thats if i can get a live moss that spreads, any help on that would be great.

sorry im going on! But all this information and knowledge helps. Ill hopefully be getting an adult pied ball or a blood python, but if younger then i will contain them separate for a while to reduce stress.

once again thank you!

[The Serpent Merchant]

That is a really big cage, so a 200W may be necessary. As long as your thermostat keeps it at the right temperature it doesn't really matter. (as long as you don't go over the maximum wattage of your thermostat)

For substrate I would suggest Eco-Earth/any of the other coconut husk based substrates. These are great at maintaining humidity, and look natural.

Just a clarification. You plan on getting a BP or a blood correct? You cannot house both in the same cage. I don't think that is what you meant, but just in case.

[matt133k]

That is a really big cage, so a 200W may be necessary. As long as your thermostat keeps it at the right temperature it doesn't really matter. (as long as you don't go over the maximum wattage of your thermostat)

For substrate I would suggest Eco-Earth/any of the other coconut husk based substrates. These are great at maintaining humidity, and look natural.

Just a clarification. You plan on getting a BP or a blood correct? You cannot house both in the same cage. I don't think that is what you meant, but just in case.

max W is 600W, will also be a dimming thermostat. Would you say the 200W ceramic heat bulb would be best or a 250W?, ill have 2 exo terra combo meteres (1 eather end) to regulate everything, id just like the least a,ount of stress on the bulb so it hopefully last longer, and both cost the same.

thanks for the substrate ideas and ill deffiently be looking into those.

sorry about the confusion! Id be having one or the other!, just not sure which one to go for! Lol. Really love the look of pied ball pythons and find them so fascinating.

Any ideas for live moss?, would ovbiously need to be safe for the python but would like it to spread naturally around the waterfall.

Thank you for all this help, i welcome any advice and knowledge

[matt133k]

Just to add, it is really big to be honest, but theres loads of hides, and they take up a lot of ground space, but ill probably still need to contain my python to reduce stress then release her into the main part.

[The Serpent Merchant]

I've used 4' x 2' x 2' cages with Ball Pythons. As long as you have proper hides you shouldn't have any issues. Here is how I set the cage up:

(The bottom cage)



I don't have any first hand experience with live moss, and with you being in the UK I'm not 100% sure on what will be available to you either.

Here is a link to a US reptile shop, that specializes in this type of stuff. They even have an employee who posts here on this site who might be able to help you out if nobody else does. (I'll send them a message about this thread)

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...errarium-moss/

[matt133k]

I've used 4' x 2' x 2' cages with Ball Pythons. As long as you have proper hides you shouldn't have any issues. Here is how I set the cage up:

(The bottom cage)



I don't have any first hand experience with live moss, and with you being in the UK I'm not 100% sure on what will be available to you either.

Here is a link to a US reptile shop, that specializes in this type of stuff. They even have an employee who posts here on this site who might be able to help you out if nobody else does. (I'll send them a message about this thread)

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...errarium-moss/

thats a really nice setup!, ill take a picture of mine tomorrow and post one up as where im at atm.
im a lot more confident that my python could just go straight into my vivarium now. Its not to far from done, just little things that cost a lot.

and for the moss, that would be much appreciated thank you!, the way my exo terra water fall is made, i think moss would look amazing on it, and should also stick to it, just havnt had any luck in finding anything about moss, but this would really help thanks

[LLLReptile]

Live pillow moss or the usual vivarium moss will not grow the way it sounds like you're hoping it will. You could try Java moss, which does grow when planted (usual types of vivarium moss just turn green and can be maintained for 1 to 3 months; it does not really grow in or thrive for long periods of time and needs to be replaced like regular substrate). However, Java moss needs to be kept extremely damp to do well, which is why is it commonly used for paludariums or dart frog terrariums, which need high amounts of moisture.

I would suggest perhaps to use a combination of eco earth, bark, and/or cypress mulch for your substrate. It'll be a nice, moist-but-not-too-moist substrate that still meets your snake's needs and look nice. You can use green sphagnum moss (which is a loose, green moss) to add accents to your cage, and pack around the waterfall, which will not only look nice but help with humidity in a useful way for the snake. The level of moisture that live moss of all kinds needs to truly thrive is a bit high for a ball python, and I know I personally would not want my snake(s) sitting on it for extended periods of time.

I think I've shared this video before, but if you haven't seen it, hopefully it gives you some ideas on setting up a neat display. To be honest, I'd scrap the idea of the live moss completely, and look into other options. I'm fond of the green sphagnum moss, but you can use spanish hanging moss as a cage accent as well.


Let me know if you have more questions!

-Jen