New tank setup

[Kaorte]

I bought a bunch of plants from the dollar store and I have wood and two hides that aren't put in the tank yet. You'd think a 20" BP would be good in a 55 with lots of foliage/wood. idk

A full grown ball python can live happily in a 20 gallon long. 30 gallon long max.

You are already having problems with keeping the temps up. Why deal with all the hassle? Trust me, it is going to be a pain in the but t keep temps up in that huge thing.

Technically they can do fine in a 55 gal if they have TONS and I mean TONS of folliage and hides. But temp is really going to be an issue.

[disabled.101]

Yea lamps work with dimmers. At least mine does
Umm 55gal is rather big. You will need more hides, more water etc... It really isn't worth it. Your python will be stressed and so will you with all the extra work.

[Appolion]

I switched the lamp to the other side and the temps are at 86 on the cool side with the UTH and 101 on the side with the heat lamp. I do plan on getting rheostats for the heat sources tomorrow. It's been on my list since the start. I'll take the 150W heat lamp back and get either a 100W heat lamp or a 100W che.

[JeffJ]

I switched the lamp to the other side and the temps are at 86 on the cool side with the UTH and 101 on the side with the heat lamp. I do plan on getting rheostats for the heat sources tomorrow. It's been on my list since the start. I'll take the 150W heat lamp back and get either a 100W heat lamp or a 100W che.

get the CHE and use the light built in the tank for viewing if the heat lamp is going to bother you at night that is.

[ohyeahnow]

Do you have a heat source for the cool end at night?

[Appolion]

Do you have a heat source for the cool end at night?

Not yet. Would a small sized UTH work for that? Then I could put the che in the middle of the tank for ambient temps. Do you think a 100w che would be overkill for ambient temps? or maybe a 75. and yes, it'll be on a rheostat.

[ohyeahnow]

I have an aquarium with two UTH's but you will need two t-stats and two dual thermometers. I have a night light (red) mounted over the hot end and attatched to the hot sides t-stat. You will need to cover the top. I used reflectix which keeps heat and humidity in.

[Kevin_Hornby]

We set our snakes up in a hundred gallon tank and they love it. Get moss its great for the humidity.

[Appolion]

I may be new to snakes, but I've never understood why people seem to think the bare minimum (or close to it) is "the best" for the welfare of the snake. A 55 gallon, which measures 48x13x22, is not that much bigger than a 20L, 30, or 40. 20L is stretching it, but the rest are fairly close... I'm trying to make this tank as natural as I can. I find it hard to think that just because my tank is a little bigger than most, I'll have a stressed out snake.

[disabled.101]

I may be new to snakes, but I've never understood why people seem to think the bare minimum (or close to it) is "the best" for the welfare of the snake.

here is one reason: (from wikipedia)

Favored retreats include mammal burrows and other underground hiding places where they also. aestivate

the other reasons are its easier to maintain healthy temps, humidity and cleaning in a smaller cage.