Thermostats are a necessity (Painful for DU)

[jason221]

Sorry for the lengthy post; I hope you guys don't mind.

I already knew that the 75-watt infared bulb sitting a few inches away and 10-20 gl. Zoo Med UTH on a dimmer heating my ball python's 28 qt. tub weren't exactly "cutting it." It was inevitable that I would be needing thermostats and some more heat, and fast, as winter is coming. My room temperature has gone from being in the low 80s in the summer, all the way down to a low of 67ºF and a high of 71-72ºF in a matter of weeks. "This is not good," I was thinking constantly. It also didn't help that the dimmer wasn't very good at controlling temperatures. If I didn't turn it to the exact position at night, it would drop to 86ºF on the warm side, no problem. It also hasn't helped that the ball python in question has been on a bit of a hunger strike for the last few weeks because of this. Not only was my snake's appetite being affected, but I knew that temperatures too cold for too long would result in illness, so something had to be done.
I finally convinced my parents that I needed these things in less than two weeks (did I mention that we're going on a 6-day vacation to Palm Springs, CA, in a week from today? I wouldn't be able to adjust the dimmer then) or it could result in serious problems for the snake. At first I was going to order from MGReptiles, but things I had heard about it taking awhile to ship to my house changed my mind over to ReptileBasics, which I recommend 100%. I placed an order for two pre-assembled sections of 11" Flexwatt, along with two Johnsons Controls thermostats, last Friday, November 3rd. The order was shipped Monday, November 5th, and arrived at my house yesterday, November 11th. I immediately set it all up after I put my ball python into a deli cup, in which he laid out a massive poo minutes before I was going to put him back in with clean water, clean newspaper, clean everything. I actually saw him do it. It's a good thing I didn't put him right back in the tub before he did that... Anyways, took a couple hours to get a consistency of 82-84 and 92-94, but he's all set now. My only complaints with the thermostats are the "click!" noises they make when turning on/off, and that there are just too many wires (see below pics). Okay, after everything was settled, I was going to feed him, but my mom said no because my younger brother had to go to bed (at 8:30!!); we share a room, which I don't prefer, but whatever. So, I ended up waiting until the next afternoon to attempt to feed him.
After thawing out a hopper, I took it up to my room, took the clips off the cage, slid the lid of the tub back a little, and after dangling it a little by his warm hide, he came right over from where he was by the cool hide. I stopped dangling when he was 6-8 inches away, because I always jump a little whenever they strike and didn't want to take him with me, wrapped around the tongs and the mouse. He came over, looked at it for awhile, looked the other way for awhile, looked back, and OPENED HIS MOUTH ON THE MOUSE'S HEAD TO SWALLOW! I really wasn't expecting that. For one, I thought he would constrict as he did in the past, and second, he hadn't eaten in a few weeks because of shedding, a little too cool for his liking, etc. I guess he really likes consistent temperatures.

So, if you're reading this and are thinking of getting a BP, don't get a dimmer unless your room temperature is extremely consistent!

Here are the pictures (sorry about the ones where he's eating; taking pictures through a Sterilite isn't exactly super easy):

[stangs13]

Thats awsome! I got my room to stay in the temps I like during the winter and it works for the snakes!

[jason221]

Thats awsome! I got my room to stay in the temps I like during the winter and it works for the snakes!

Thank you, and good luck with your own snakes.