My set-up, so far

[missi182]

very nice setup.


That said, you have to put the UTH on at least a lamp dimmer switch (10 bucks at home depot) and I recomend you put the lamp on a thermostat. The zoomed 500r thermostat is about 30 bucks... and will work if you can't afford the better helix, Ranco, or herpstat. If that is not possible, put the lamp too on a dimmer switch (not the same one as the UTH.) If that is a 20gallon long tank, you will want a 60 watt CHE. if it is a 30gallon long tank, you will want a 100 watt CHE.



Only other thing I see is the bulb in your lamp. I would get rid of the bulb, and get a ceramic heat emitter instead. Ball Pythons do not need a light, and I have found that it can stress them out. Plus, you have to keep the temps right all the time.. night and day. You can NOT keep that light on all the time. You will totally stress it out!

Before we get much farther in giving you advice, you have to get the digital thermometers and hydrometer. you can get an Acurite from the hardware store.. It measures temp and humidity, and has a remote probe that you can put on the hot side under the substrate... and measure everything for $10 BUCKS.


Good job so far tho!

Mike

I don't know if you read the other posts, but with exception to the CHE (which the OP may not even know what that stands for) You have just repeated me, but thats O.K! Anyway, a CHE is a Ceramic Heat Emitter, and before you run out and buy one I will tell you (the OP) a bit about them.

CHEs kill humidity BIG time. Yes they do not produce light (good thing) but they require specific lamps to use them, that are properly rated for use of a CHE. Another thing is they cost anywhere from $25-$40 for the coil alone, and the lamps are also at least $20.

You are very correct that that light will stress out the bp if it is left on 24/7 so I would suggest an Infrared Bulb, as they cost about $10, and the light does not disturb the bp. These can be purchased at almost any pet store that carries reptile supplies, and the wattage of them varies.

Also - putting a dimmer on the lamps you have reduce the life of the bulb, so it is more intelligent to simply buy the proper wattage of bulb to meet the temperature needs of the size of tank you have.