It really all depends on how your temperatures are running and how warm or cool the ambient temps are in the room the cages are kept in.


Lights above the tanks can cause a significant loss of humidity. And unless they are red or blue, they can also be a stress factor for a nocturnal animal like a ball python. But...if you NEED them for supplemental heat, and if you can keep the humidity in the proper ranges, they're usually fine.

If you can maintain the proper temps with just a UTH...I'd go for that method. If the UTH can keep the warm side warm enough, but the cool side is TOO cool...then use the overhead light to supplement that side.

The most critical piece of advice for any of this is to say that no matter what method you use, you need to have CONTROL over the amount of heat being put out. You need the UTH's hooked up to t-stats (a single t-stat can work if all tanks are in the same location and set up the same with the same sized mats) and perhaps a dimmer switch for the lamps.

Also, you need an accurate thermometer to be sure you're achieving the proper temps with whatever setup you choose to go with.

Good luck with it.