Quote Originally Posted by Snagrio View Post
Next is location and humidity. Where I live the weather conditions change frequently with the seasons (and even by the week/day sometimes) so I've been thinking of putting the enclosure in the basement where it's more stable (the basement is a finished one and I'm down here a lot by default). Would that be ideal? For reference I plan on using coconut fiber substrate since from what I've heard it strikes a nice balance of retaining humidity while not absorbing it too much and rotting, plus its visual appeal and safety if ingested on accident (as I'd like to do in-tank feeding, did out of tank feeding last time and would rather not again if possible).

Then there's heating. Going to do a UTH, but then my question comes with lighting. I know ball pythons don't necessarily need it, but given mine will probably be living in the basement I'd like to give it light so it can have a proper day/night cycle. But with heating already covered, does that mean I can simply do something like attach a regular lightbulb to a lamp so it doesn't add too much heat? Or would that be too much still? Also, I've read that if you want more humidity you should put the water bowl over the UTH (I am aware you keep the UTH itself outside the tank though). Is that a good idea? Does it evaporate the water too fast or make the water too hot?
Mine is kept in my bedroom which’s in the loft, it can get cold up here especially in winter (Liverpool), right now the outside temp is about 5°C during daytime it’s been around 9°C BUT I have a oil heater which’s great and will bring the temperature up quickly and with ease plus it’ll cost less than a normal heater when it comes to the electric bill even it’s on the highest setting. If you’re putting your snake in your basement I doubt you’ll need it.

The substrate I use is the zoo med eco-earth & Forrest floor, it’s safe and great for holding humidity as well especially during a shed. Usually if I have them I will put in some leaves that’ve been naturally harvested and dried.

I use a RHP (radiant heat panel) that’s on the ceiling of the viv with a guard as well to prevent burns, and two heat mats which have covers over them for my heating, one mat on the cool side set at a lower temp than the one on the warm/hot side, *if* you get a viv don’t put the mats on the outside under the viv, the heat will not get through just put a guard over it
. I also put newspaper down as well over heat mat covers just to be safe, then I put the substrate on top of that. All connected to a thermostat btw.
When I first moved him to the viv I used a ceramic heat bulb with a cylindrical guard, unfortunately he was fond of coiling around it which I wasn’t pleased with which’s why I switched to the RHP which’s great at keeping a stable ambient temp and they can’t wrap themselves around it.
On lighting I use white Python leds which are very good. If you wanted to you could have two colours set up for it, I just use the standard white ones though in the past I have used both white and green. These are set on a timer as well to turn off at a certain time in the evening & turn on in the morning.
On the placement of the water bowl, imo you could see what the humidity’s like with the bowl on the cooler before side you make a decision on it. Personally mines just in the middle of the viv.

Here’s what I use:








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