adam yes helpful thank you. i was having trouble upping the temps because with the higher wattage bulb it was getting too hot (108 :shock: ) on the hot side and doing nothing to the cold side. (my snake was not in there when i was testing temps) i'm getting him a taller cage this weekend and hopefully the higher wattage bulb will work better when it's higher up from the substrate.
and jack no i don't plan on breeding him. there's enough ball pythons being bred out there i don't want to make them the next iguana. (no offense to breeders whatsoever) plus i could never handle selling babies.
oh, and he is 4 and in very good health and nice and fat to begin with, that is him in my avatar so i'm sure you all are right and he will be fine. it is just my first winter with him so i'm being nervous mommy.