Quote Originally Posted by Phantom1987 View Post
Spot on. If he can't ditch the heat lamp I would suggest switching to a PVC vision cage. Glass tanks IMO shouldn't be used for ball pythons. Also, if your room temp is lower and you can't use a space heater go with a PVC enclosure with a radiant heat panel and heat tape. Heat sources always controlled by a dimmer thermostat. IF someone can't afford a proper set up I don't think they should keep snakes.
I have heard wonderful things about the PVC cages from Vision Cages, Animal Plastics, and Reptile Basics, among others. Great-looking and great quality enclosures! However, those come with pretty significant price tags, too. I do plan to eventually upgrade to PVC cages as my snakes' "forever homes" once they have reached adult size in 1-2 more years, but until then, they've got Sterilite tub setups, which are quite easy on the wallet.

I do agree that if someone cannot afford the essentials for keeping their snake healthy, then it may be best to wait until they're in a more secure financial position. However, I also think we can play a great role in helping a new keeper distinguish between what is non-negotiably "essential" and needs to be included in the budget, and what is "optimal" but not strictly necessary. So, a thermostat is an essential. But specifically a $100+ Herpstat thermostat? Maybe more optimal, but definitely not essential, haha. In a similar vein, a PVC cage is spectacular ... but a glass tank can definitely be modified to work. I've seen the "tanks vs. tubs" debate come up fairly frequently, particularly in ball python Facebook groups, and I understand the reasons for those who have strong opinions about them on either side - but I think one of the best things about this forum is that for any given enclosure type, glass tanks included, we have experienced keepers available and ready to chime in with setup advice.