Ambient Lighting for BP
Hey guys, so I have a young ball python in a 20 gallon long aquarium with a screen lid. Currently I'm using a clamp on desk type light that produces a small amount of heat but nothing overwhelming. The issue is, its starting to short out and the clamp isn't all that great. With the screen lid on, it doesn't give me many options for keeping it in place either.
So my question is, what type of lighting system can I use for my ball pythons enclosure that won't produce a whole lot of excess heat and will also illuminate the entirety of the cage with the least amount of effort? If my room was well lit, I wouldn't even consider replacing it. But in order to keep a natural day/night cycle, I believe its necessary since that part of the room doesn't see a whole lot of sunlight. I do plan to put it on some type of timer so that the lighting stays consistent. With that being said, I'm looking for the cheapest option possible.
I've looked into using the same domes you would use for basking spots, but just adding a bulb with minimal wattage. But that risks jumping the ambient heat higher than it needs to be. Ive also looked at regular 30" aquarium tops that have the lamps built in. I figured if I sat something like that on top of the mesh top I am already using, it would be relatively easy to move on/off and would also help with the screen's issue of releasing too much heat/humidity into the room. Only downside is I'm thinking that those bright white lights might be a little on the harsh side and in turn would stress out the snake.
So what do you guys think? Or do you think I'm better off going with bare minimum lighting altogether at risk of ruining the day/night cycle? Thanks for your help in advance!
PS: My humidity reads about perfect with my current setup, but my temperature tends to fluctuate a little lower than it should.
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