Vivarium

[Alex Dew]

Hey all

I got a second hand vivarium for my bp a few days ago but it only came with a large heat mat. So I stuck the hat mat on the inside of the viv and put 3 layers of paper towels over it (which I use for substrait). I leave it on 24hours a day and it stays at about 80F. My bp seems fine.

BUT is this hot enough for her???

Thanks

Alex

[marisa]

Not really. They like a hot spot of 85-90. 80 isn't even really hot enough for a cornsnake, let alone a BP. They like it warm and need to warm to digest, eat normally, defecate normally, etc.

Also its really dangerous to have it inside the cage unless you have a thermastat. Even at that, unless its water proof you could have trouble if the BP pees on it.

Marisa

[Alex Dew]

Dont Worry, the heat mat i water proof.

I have another smaller watar proof heat mat which I will be able to use in about a week (its being used for another project at the moment).

Shall I use that, and if so, where in the viv???

Thanks

Alex

[marisa]

I am a little confused here.

How did you "make" a heating pad waterproof?

And also, you create a heating gradient by placing your heat source to one side of the enclosure. For the Ball Python you will need 85-90 hot spot, so you should get a thermometer and check the temp. You won't be able to just throw in TWO heating pads in the same enclosure. You need to purchase a proper heating source that will raise the temp to what the BP needs. If the smaller one will, just use that. If not you'll have to buy something else.

I can't stress enough how dangerous it is to have the heating pad inside the tank without a thermastat. Please, if you do not already have one, get one. Not only can your snake get severe life threatening burns, but a simple simploe malfunction could burn down your house. It's happened before.

Marisa