Heating Question

[ErikH]

Hello everyone,

I just got my first Ball Python 4 days ago and I have some questions regarding maintaining the proper temperature gradient in his tank. The tank is glass with a screen top and measures 30" long by 12" wide by 12" high. I am currently using newspaper for substrate. I have an undertank heating pad on the warm side, supplemented by a 100 w ceramic heater above, and a 75 w infrared spot on the cool side. Assuming the tank thermometers are correct, (I plan to pick up a digital thermometer hygrometer today after reading posts on this site) the tank is between 80 and 85F on the cool side and slightly over 90 on the hot side appoximately 1" above the floor of the cage. My Question is, does it seem like I am putting too much heat into this cage? The snake seems to be behaving normally at this point-- he uses hides on both sides and seems most active around dusk and dawn. I have pretty much left him undisturbed aside from changing his water daily.

I would really appreciate any input.

Thanks!

[Smulkin]

does it seem like I am putting too much heat into this cage?

Only if the surface temps of the glass/papers is significantly higher which is quite possible. I would watch the humidity as well most def especially with a bulb AND a ceramic emitter - could make thing unsuitably arid especially when coupled with a screen lid.

[ErikH]

I have been periodically misting the cage to keep the humidity up. I am going to rig up a humidifier soon. Thanks!

[kenatk]

A humidifier is a good idea. I was going to get one but I found that, by covering 3/4 of the screen with a nice opaque material (I use a cut-out piece of a trash bag), a large water dish with a wide surface area and using a heating/lighting rig similar to the one you described I get good humidity levels without misting (60 - 65). It works pretty good.

The trick is to keep it consistent, especially with the humidity because you don't want it to drop too much, or all of a sudden go way, way up into the 75 range; which can happen sometimes with the misting. Don't get me wrong, misting is a good idea and stuff, the problem I had was when some of the water lands on the glass and evaporates faster than the water that lands in the terrarium it's self ... I liked the large water dish idea as a substitute, and my red lamp heats it up enough to facilitate evaporation while the trash bag sgreen cover makes for a good "green house effect" keeping a large part of the humidity evenly distributed in there.

Concerning your temperature, make sure you keep an eye on how the temp. of the room affects rises and drops in the terrarium temperature. You'd be amazed what weird things can happen to the temperature in the terrarium when you use the AC to keep a room at 75 degrees versus using the heat to keep the room at 75 ... in my place at least. It was strange. Dimmers can help with that.

Anyway, I am a new BP owner too and I think its cool that you got into it. I hope your experience is proving to be as fun and rewarding as mine has been.

Take care.

[justcage]

A humidifier is a good idea. I was going to get one but I found that, by covering 3/4 of the screen with a nice opaque material (I use a cut-out piece of a trash bag)

Try This stuff
http://www.mgreptiles.com/REFLECTIX.html

[kenatk]

justcage, that is intriguing. I will pick some up this wekend, as Fall / Winter is fast aproaching and I think I may need something a little tougher than the trash bag material.

Thank you!