lots of questions concerning Heat pads and Rheostats...

[megan13]

I recently purchased my first snake, a female ball python. I am looking to buy a heat pad for her as my house is old and gets cold very easily. I know I will need a thermometor/dimmer to control everything, and when I looked up some information, people were saying something about probes? Can someone explain what these probes are, and where should I put them once I get the rheostat? Also when should I keep the heat pad on: day, night, or both? Thank you for your time answering this. I am kind of overwhelmed as to all the different heating options, and figuring out what is best for keeping her the most comfortable. Any advice is welcome!

[Kiljosh]

I can sympathize, I am also a first time snake owner and its a tad overwhelming.

Probes are at the end of the thermostat's temperature sensing wire. Rheostats do not have probes. All you do if you set one up is put it somewhere you want to control the temperature, I keep mine on the hot side and not in direct light of the heat lamps. It's under some Ivy.

Thermostats are the better option to heat your tank. If you used a rheostat and the temperature in your house went up, it would not compensate for this and continue to heat the tank. Thermos will shut off once the probe hits the temperature you select.

As for the pad cycles, some people seem to give them night temps while others just stay consistent. Honestly I think it depends on the size of his tank. A 20gallon may need this cool off period at night(to about 80F) but if your tank is big enough just having a cool side hide at 77-80F and a warm side at 87-91F you should be fine. This is what I do, I used to run night cycles but couldn't stick to a defined pattern of when I was lifting and dropping temps. So when I moved him I decided to go with infrared light above rheostat'd as low as possible, and heat wire below the tank on a thermostat. I was told not to mix mat/wire with lights on the same thermostat. He now just moves from end to end when he wants and is happy and healthy. Eats well, never shows aggression!

[Lankyrob]

Definitely use a THERMOstat not a RHEOstat, much more reliable and less hassle for you as once it is set up apart from occassionnaly checking the temps you dont need to fiddle with it.

There are lots of BP owners on here so any questions you may have will have many helpful responses!!

Welcome to the forum!!

[Jacob1750]

If it is a small tank you may need to let the temperature drop at night, this is part of the temperatures they experience in the wild. I have my ball python in a 75 gal tank and I still lower his temps. You also want to make sure you give the snake plenty of UVA's and UVB's. That will keep the snakes stress low and it's also good for stimulating feeding.

[megan13]

Thanks you guys :D can I get a thermometor for the heat pad at petsmart or something?

[Lankyrob]

Snakes dont need UV lights.......... :)

[youngster]

Yeah, snakes are carnivores so they get all their calcium from the bones of rodents.
Since lizards are insect eaters they need UV and supplements to get their calcium :)

[alessia55]

The THERMOstat will have a cable that plugs into the wall, an outlet for you to plug the heat mat into it, and a cable with a temperature probe at the end of it that you'll place inside the cage wherever you want to measure the temperature. Once you buy a thermostat and see it, it'll make more sense :)

[Jacob1750]

The only reason I had suggested UV rays is because my vet informed me that snakes are colorblind, but if you introduce some type of UV spectrum then it alows them to see in color using there heat pits. Im not saying hes without a doubt correct or anything, but I had figured since he was a vet he might have been legit. Sorry if im incorrect guys lol.

[Lankyrob]

The heat pits purely see heat - they dont need the addition of light to work.

Drop a rat (f/t of course ;) )into a retic's cage in pitch black and i will pretty much guarantee within seconds you will hear the bang of the rat being pummelled!

[millertime89]

The heat pits purely see heat - they dont need the addition of light to work.

Drop a rat (f/t of course ;) )into a retic's cage in pitch black and i will pretty much guarantee within seconds you will hear the bang of the rat being pummelled!

good luck getting it to the ground before hearing that bang...

[megan13]

I bought her a Flukers heat mat. :3