Tank and temp questions.

[Joshkwasi]

OK so here's the deal I have a young ball python don't know his exact age but he's probably around 6 months old. I live in Arizona so my house temp I keep at 82 to 84. So I don't use a heat lamp I just have a big and a small uth right now I regulate them with a dimmer switch but I'm going to get an actual thermostat today cause they were sold out. I keep good humidity but the only thing I'm worried about is that I travel on weekends 3 to 4 days I'm gone and I live alone. The Moss I use keeps the humidity up for a day or two. So basically I just want to know if there is anything I should buy to make sure he is good while I'm gone and if he will be okay if I can't wipe his tank down daily.

[Mr. Misha]

This might not be an ideal answer to your question, but i'd recommend getting a PVC enclosure which keeps humidity trapped very well. I'd personally recommend Animal Plastics enclosures. I think if you're looking for a piece of mind while you're away, that's the route to take.

In my experience an Animal Plastic T8 enclosure with coconut husk substrate keeps the humidity at about 50-60% without any misting or damp moss.

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[Joshkwasi]

Okay awesome well that's good to know and I will definitely look into it for the near future. I just want my snake to be comfy lol

[Mr. Misha]

Okay awesome well that's good to know and I will definitely look into it for the near future. I just want my snake to be comfy lol

Also, with T8's, you can get a divider they sell to split the terrarium in two and have room for an additional ball python. Just a thought...

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[bumblebee1028]

Another thing you can try to help keep the humidity up is to use a larger water bowl (one with more surface area), and to put it closer to the warm side of the tank. And I haven't had any issues with humidity in my "rack" set up using plastic storage bins. It's pretty cheap to set up a basic plastic tub set up (though it won't look as nice as a PVC enclosure). The plastic bins and PVC enclosures are definitely much better at maintaining proper humidity than glass tanks.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...e-Basics-*DUW*

[Joshkwasi]

Yes I saw that on some sites they look pretty nice I think I am gonna get one in a month or two but after that I'm good with my hands I'm thinking about building one myself if I get more snakes. And yes the water bowl was the first thing I did I have a nice big one and honestly the humidity stays up for a day or 2 with out messing with it just with being gone for large gaps is the concern and about his tank staying clean I like to wipe it down daily.

[Joshkwasi]

Oh yeah one for question well im at it. I don't use a lamp at all I have two uth with regulated heat a big one and a small one and the temp of the encloser is fine. So is that okay?

[Mr. Misha]

Oh yeah one for question well im at it. I don't use a lamp at all I have two uth with regulated heat a big one and a small one and the temp of the encloser is fine. So is that okay?

Let me ask you this: how are you regulating each UTH and what are you using to measure the ambient temp of the enclosure and the temp of both UTH?

[Joshkwasi]

I have thermostats that regulate the temp and they have probes. But the reason my tank stays pretty warm is cause I'm in Arizona so my house temp is 82 to 84 as it is. I just dono if I should use a lamp so he can bask somewhat.

[Mr. Misha]

I have thermostats that regulate the temp and they have probes. But the reason my tank stays pretty warm is cause I'm in Arizona so my house temp is 82 to 84 as it is. I just dono if I should use a lamp so he can bask somewhat.

Well my first suggestion is for you it to invest into an Acurite thermometer like the one i posted a link below so you can know your ambient temperature and also the real temperature of your UTH. I have to set my UTH thermostat to 96 in order for it to warm up the bottom of the terrarium to my hot spot of about 89.

This is the thermometer that's pretty popular and decently cheap: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acu-Rite-I...mometer/896347

My second suggestion is that since your terrarium already gets to the temps of 82-84 by itself, you can up the temp on one of the UTHs to create a hot spot for your snake instead of getting a basking lamp. That way you're providing them with belly heat which some people argue is better.


I took a photo of my thermometer (top). #2 setting is my UTH that acts as my hot spot. #3 setting is my RHP (radient heat panel) which is my ambient heat.

The bottom photo is the thermometer probe temp, ambient temp and humidity.