Ball Python temps

[Cherry4812]

So I get that one side of the tank should be slightly cooler than the other. I have a heating lamp that keeps the warm side approximately 80 degrees but my tank isn't very big and I don't have a thermometer for the other side. I know it needs to be warmer so i bought a heating pad for under the tank too. Should I put it on the same side I have the heating lamp and use both? Also, should the temps be different at night?

[Will0W783]

80 degrees is too cold. Your hot end should be up near 90-93 and the cool end should be around 83-85 during the day. You can let it drop to 80 at night. I would put both heat sources on the same end so you can create a better gradient- you want the snake to be able to regulate its temperature by moving from warm to cool areas of the cage or vice versa. Since your cage has been too cold, keep a very close eye on your snake for signs of wheezing, sneezing, or clicking while breathing, as he could develop a respiratory infection.

[citysnakes]

definitely invest in a couple digital thermometers. you cant guess temperatures especially when using unregulated heating elements. you'll need to measure the temperature of the heat pad directly over the glass to be aware of the heat that your snake is coming in contact with. also you need to know the air temperature of the warm and cool end. its a good idea to invest in a rheostat or better yet a thermostat so you that can control the heating elements you use and not cook your snake or start a fire in your house.

bump those temps up to around 80ish cool and 90ish warm and you can keep those constant day and night. it is not necessary to drop your temperatures at night and your snake will do very well this way.

[mykee]

90-95 on the hot side, with undertank heating, overhead heating only dries out the air and is counterproductive to what you are attempting to do with a ball pythons. Get rid of the overhead lamp or bulb. 80-83-ish on the cool side. Keep these temps ALL YEAR and do not drop them at night as suggested in a previous post.
Buy a thermostat and temperature guage. It is imperitive that you be able to monitor temps and humidity ALL THE TIME.
You ONLY drop temps at night when you are breeding.
You are not breeding.
I also hope that this research is being done PRIOR to the purchase of your ball python and you had the foresight to learn about proper temps BEFORE you bought the animal and not after.

[Cherry4812]

I have a heating pad but it says the wattage is only 5-15 (i could be wrong i'll check when i get home) but that doesn't seem enough to heat to the right temperature on its own. I have a stick on heat and humidity gauge but i'm looking for a better type of device. Is there any anyone would recommend?

[Cherry4812]

I've been checking, even before this post, for signs of an RI (the wheezing, clicking, ect...) but i don't hear a thing. I've had a stick on temperature and humidity gauge. I know they're not the best but they're all i can do for right now. I put the heating pad on and the temperature is up. I did quite a bit of research on ball pythons but I was looking for clarifications on certain issues so thank you for answering my questions.

[teague]

Ok mykee, all my research on ball python setups has recommended overhead heat lamps. I totally agree that they dry the air and I am constantly struggling to keep my humidity up, an under tank heater is helpful but cannot keep the temp ranges needed. I also keep a damp towel on top of my screen to help with humidity. Here is a pick of my setup. Do you or any one else have any suggestions, because I would love to get rid of my lamps. A few months ago an apartment fire was started due to a cat knocking over a heat lamp on a snake cage. The snake perished in the fire:( I do not have a cat but I do have a dog. I try to secure my wires but I still worry.

[new2herp01]

I have a similar setup and I too find the humidity a problem. My BP shed recently but in pieces. (I have her in a damp pillowcase right now to help with the leftovers somebody suggested that one) I would like to see what anybody suggests with the humidity problem

[mykee]

"Ok mykee, all my research on ball python setups has recommended overhead heat lamps. I totally agree that they dry the air and I am constantly struggling to keep my humidity up, an under tank heater is helpful but cannot keep the temp ranges needed."
Wrong and wrong.
First, you're looking in all the wrong places if the only information you get is to use a heat lamp.
Ball pythons sleep during the day, only to emerge from most likely undergorund to hunt for food. An overhead heat source will dry out the air and is not necessary (or useful in ANY way for the ball python.
Two: You absolutely MUST use a thermostat with you runder-tank heat source, (I'm guessing one of those cute little pads for your local pet store).
ANY size pad is capable of producing temps of over 140 degrees; about 45 degrees warmer than you'll ever need.

Some advice; find some ball python breeder websites online (like mine) where you can get useful information that won't put you behind the eight ball, thereby forcing you to provide less than acceptable husbandry for your animal.
I won't even touch on keeping your ball python in a fish cage...

[mary10]

totally off topic but mykee, your pic of your dog with the tennis balls in her mouth is absoluty hilarious! great pics and website as well........back to your regular scheduled program!

[teague]

lol thanks mykee i will check out your website.

[teague]

I have a zoo med uth im guessing thats one of the cute little pads you speak of...im trying.

[teague]

To control my humidity I take a glass or two of water and mix it in my substrate until it is all absorbed. I also keep a damp towel on top. I see you use newspaper so that won't work:( luckily i have had no problem with sheds.

[Aaron_S]

You know what's easier than mixing water into your substrate? Not using the lamps or using a fish tank.

The heat pad SHOULD work hooked up to a thermostat. You can go cheap and get a dimmer from home depot but then you're always checking the temps to make sure they are correct.

After that, if you're still having problems with your humidity and are still using the fish tank, then make a humid hide.

[mykee]

Thanks Mary. :crazy:

[teague]

Well mykee I checked out your website. First, there was some very useful info, so thanks. Second, you only go into detail about housing balls in "racks" which is not what I'm looking for. Great info for someone that needs to house multiple snakes. Not for me though.
I want to see my snakes. Watch them cruise around the tank.
Ive checked out Cages by design. Very cool. Very expensive. Seen the Visions. (ohhh ugly) Is it Repti-cage that I'm thinking? The double door in front? Whats your take on them?

[mykee]

My take on reptile habitats is that regardless of what you want, they need to satisfy a few criteria for a long, healthy life of the animal housed. A fish tank, BTW, does not meet that criteria in any way.
1. Maintain a thermal gradient of correct temperatures on BOTH sides of the enclosure (80-95).
Whether you require heat tape, an UTH, a heating pad, I don't care. Whatever you use, do NOT overheat (which means using a thermostat).
2. Humidity (here's the Achilles Heel of fish cages: You just can't do it very well). 60% ALL THE TIME, adn 80-90% during shed.
3. Providing a stress-free environment for the ball python to live it's life. This does not mean a giant glass box with 360 degree visibility in any room of the house.

If these conditions can be met, I could care less if you kept your ball python in a cardboard box in the middle of your backyard in the dead of winter.
The fact is, that most new hobbyists forget that the conditions of the animal need to be met and THAT'S ALL. Your desires are secondary to providing this animal, that, through no fault of it's own, is in your care.

[new2herp01]

So I get that the fish tank was a bad idea, nobody ever said anything when i was buying my supplies. So would the double door be a better solution then? There has to be a common ground here, maybe other BP owners can post pics of their enclosures. Ones that have great humidity and pleasing to the eye.

[mykee]

You'll never hear that buying a fish cage for your reptile is a bad idea by the undereducated, complacent, pimple-faced minimum-wage making teenager who works at your local pet store. After they leave the pet store, they'll be working at a pizza shop, then a drug store stocking shelves. Their training is less than minimal and from my experiences from a local pet store near me (which I go into for shits and giggles) they could care less.
You want to do some research from other (longer-term) hobbyists, and even better; breeders who have been doing this for lots of years and have, through trial and error, "figured it out".
To answer your question, those two door sliding cage deals with the glass or plexi front are suitable if you pick the right one and WAIT until your ball python is done growing into adulthood before purchasing the APPROPRITELY SIZED ENCLOSURE. There are many types of units out there, some good, some not so good. Do your research. Many serious hobbyists also build their own, so if you look hard enough (not too hard really) you'll find forums and tons of pics on homemade units that meet every requirement that your ball python needs.
Good luck.

[Flatheadhunter3]

I would like to construct my own viv soon as I come off this deployment that Im on...the sites that show ideas for "do it yourself" generally say to use wood...is this sufficient? Also, I am reading contradicting info from different places...one site says that any thing more than a "little" humidity is no good for the snake because it causes the snake to get infections on it's belly, and goes on to say that as long as the snake has a tub to soak in that its good...then I read else where that the snake needs 50-70% humidity...what gives?

[kayleegrace]

Well I have a ball and I have a hide rock wich they need then I put the heat pad under his hide rock. And I have his lamp over that so he can sit or lay I guess, on his rock and his water dish on the other side and that his cool spot oh nd if you only have one thermometer like I do just switch in the middle of the day nd check it. And if you have a heat pad you don't need a heat lamp on during the night.... Hope this helps

[citysnakes]

And if you have a heat pad you don't need a heat lamp on during the night.... Hope this helps

if the ambient air temperature falls below 78 then the heat lamp must stay on at night.