Housing Ball Python -

[Anonymous]

Okay I have a baby python, which is maybe a foot at the most.
I'm currently keeping him in a ten gallon tank, I'm trying to get my 50 gallon from New York as soon as possible.
I'm using paper towels.

Okay, in my house its about 70-75 degrees.
The pet shop that I bought the ball python from told me to turn on my 50W Exo Terra Sun Glo Terrarium Daylight Lamp, during the day time and to turn it off when the sun goes down. So I did that for about a week, but I'm getting very worried.
The temperature falls down to 75 degrees at night!
So I ran out and bought a heat pad for under the tank.
But realized I'm using paper towels, so here goes my questions -

1) Can I use the heat pad under my tank if my tank is lined with paper towels?
2) Whats the average temperature, should there be under my hide box (basking spot) during the daytime AND nightime.
3) What should get humidity be during daytime AND night time?
4) Should I get a Exo Terra Night Glo Moonlight Lamp and return my heat pad?
5) Whats good substrate for my ball python?
5) How big does my python have to be till I have to transfer it to my 50 gallon?
6) Should I return my heat pad and just get a Exo Terra Heat Glo Infrared Heat Lamp, the red one that can be left on 24/7?
7) Can anyone name any lamps that I can use 24/7 to keep temperatures nice and warm?
Thanks for the help in advance!


Also if possible, can any of you suggest how I can make a new home for her from a plastic house, like a giant rubbermaid tube for example.
Anyone have a step by step guide on how I can make the new home and what I need to put in it, just as heat pads, lamps, hides etc ...
I want to make her the perfect home with the perfect temps, if possible.
Thank you for your time.

[rex322]

answers that i can answer:
1.yes. i dont see the problem, im sure it would be safe.
2.day time ambient temp shuld be 80-85 with a warm side of 90-95. night time should get no lower then an ambient temp of 75 and have a warm side of at least 85 degrees. no night time drop is needed.
3. 55-65% all day and night when not oin shed, when in shed 65-80%
4.keep ur heat pad. belly heat is essential for a BP to digest so keep it. i would keep a heat lamp with a night glow or infrared light available just in case.
5.id say switch tanks when your BP gets as long or a lil longer then the 10gal. if you go right to the 50gal, make sure you provide ALOT of hides and coverage such as vines. i would get a 30gal before putting it in a 50gal. 30gal is minium space for an adult ball.
6.see answer 4.
7.i use flukers heat lamps, 8.5" for my 30 gal BP tank, and 10.5 for my BCIs 4x2.5x2.5 enclosure. you can adjust temps with it by using different size bulbs or another thing but i forget the name. for a 10gal i would recommend a 5.5" heat lamp or smaller if available

for the rubbermaid, checkout the DIY section. hope i helped

[Anonymous]

Okay heres another question, so I keep the heat pad on 24/7 and get a night bulb also ... to keep temps in the 85s at night?
OR can I get an infrared bulb thats 24/7 and leave the heat pad on all the time ...

Okay I read about the rubbermaid home and it said ... Here is an example, this would be how you'd cut out the ports for one dome heat lamp and one rectangular florescent light fixture

Sorry for sounding stupid, but do I need a florescent light for my ball python?

[rex322]

no special lighting is needed. keep ur heat pad on 24/7, usually low. wut kind are you using? i use human heating pads, most people do. i keep mine on 24/7 on low. i would leave the heat pad on all the time. i would keep a heat lamp near by, incasr you need one. you might not, but its a good thing to have. infared or night bulbs would be best, as to much light can stress your ball out. but plz, if you do get the bulbs, use ones ment for heating reptiles. those cheap party bulbs crack and let light through that you may not realize but your ball does. any more questions, toss them at us. no question is stupid, you cant sound stupid, we were all where you were at one point.

[Anonymous]

I bought a Repti Therm U.T.H Under Tank Heater -
Which is made by zoo med, and my bulb right now is a 50W Tight Beam .. Sun Glo by Exo Terra, but I'll pick up a infared 24/7 bulb up tomorrow morning.
Thank you for your help, I hope my ball python grows to be big and beautiful!
This is the best reptile forum, let alone ball python forum I"VE EVER SEEN! This place is amazing, I'm happy I found it! I can't thank you enough for your help!

[rex322]

whats your setup like? list how setup is setup and i might be able to make some suggestions and stuff. include what you have (substrate, thermometer/hygrometer, etc)

[Anonymous]

Well I'm using a ten gallon tank at the moment.
Theres a hide box to the left of the tank ...
A water dish on the right side.
The Lamp is over the hide box and the heat pad is under the hide box.
I have a thermometer near the hide box, I placed the hygrometer in the middle, planning to get another thermometer tomorrow.
Oh yeah, I'm using paper towels.

I'm planning to get a giant rubbermaid chest tomorrow and turn it into a home for her, but I was wondering would it be possible to keep the rubbermaid home outside in a shade during the day/night time ... I live in Florida ...

[rex322]

before you buy the other thermometer..im assuming your using analog thermometers. i use to use these. its better to go buy a digital thermometer/hygrometer. its around $20. just make sure that A. it has a probe so it can give you two different readouts. (one for cool side, one for warmside) put the probe in the warm hide. you should get another hide, and put it on the cool side, so he/she doesnt have to choose between feeling safe and thermoregulating. i wouldnt place the rubbermaid outside. to many reasons not to. it would be easier and safer to put it inside as your pretty much offering a free snake that way. i have heard of peoples snakes being stolen, so just leave it inside. other then that you setup is fine. hows your humidity? to keep it right you can cover most of your top with damp paper towels or damp towels. just make sure you leave some space at the end of the tank for air exchange.

[rex322]

keep an eye on the temps of that heating pad to. you should have the tank proped up a little bit so that the hot air from the UTH can be released.

[Anonymous]

My humidity shows, about 40-45 on thew warm side and 50-55 on the cooler side, I just put damp paper towells on the right side, so that should help.

Yeah the heating pad came with little sticky legs that I put under the tank to give it a bit of height to let hot air out.

I live on about 6 acres, so I highly doubt anyone would steal the snake ...
Theres actually a man that keeps tigers about a two miles from me, but I'll keep the snake indoors for safety.