Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just purchased my first ball python today, His name is G.T., and he is about 2 1/2, is about 3 feet long....I also have a question, I got a heating pad when I got him, but it seems to be getting too hot any ideas??? Should I change to a light source of heat or what??

THANKS!!!
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A.J.
0.1.0- Fiancee- Emily (LOL!)
1.0.0- Amel Motley Corn- Valentine (R.I.P 5/20/05)
0.1.0- Snow Corn- Artica
1.0.0- Normal Corn- Ember
1.0.0- Ball Python- G.T.
1.0.0- Bearded Dragon- Stang
2.0.0- Chihuahua- Nightro, Parker
1.2.0- Cats- Mollie, Sammie, Clowie
0.0.12- Fish- Carolina, Garfield, DumDum, rest unnamed

Buy a thermostat...there are very expensive ones and some simple ones for about $26 that come with a probe that you would put in the tank on top of where the pad is, and set it to 95 degrees summer, with your winter roll back scheme. You're nuts not to use thermostats with any heat device. Also get one that has a fuse or safety circuit to stop it from failing and overheating. Big Apple Herp, ESU and others have one around $26 - $30 as noted above.
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Mike and David at 3-D Pythons
www.3dpythons.com

Thanks, I never thought of that....and of course no one ever thought to tell me that either....I raelly appreciate the advice
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A.J.
0.1.0- Fiancee- Emily (LOL!)
1.0.0- Amel Motley Corn- Valentine (R.I.P 5/20/05)
0.1.0- Snow Corn- Artica
1.0.0- Normal Corn- Ember
1.0.0- Ball Python- G.T.
1.0.0- Bearded Dragon- Stang
2.0.0- Chihuahua- Nightro, Parker
1.2.0- Cats- Mollie, Sammie, Clowie
0.0.12- Fish- All Unnamed

Before you buy a thermostat, I'd recommend going to MGReptiles.com and reading what he has to say about the inexpensive ones. He claims that the ones that sell for less than $40 in most places are set up so that full voltage runs through the probe. If the probe wire became abraded and the metal were exposed, you'd put full house current through your cage. I don't know enough about the electronics of those probes to confirm or dispute this opinion, but the possibility caused me to buy one of the better although more expensive thermostats.

I'd also be interested in seeing your setup to understand why the pad may be too hot. Regardless of anything else, I agree with the recommendation to get a thermostat, but maybe other things are happening that lead to higher temperatures than you expect. What kind of heat do you use with your corn snakes. Obviously, you have some experience in providing heat to a snake. Are you using the same kind of pad with your ball python that you use with your corns?

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

actually I just use a light, I got a setup throught a vendor at a reptile show that i got the python from, said to make sure i used the included feet but the feet didn't do anything, the corn snakes i have, never had a pad just a light....should I stick with a light? or get a thermostat?? I just dunno what to do
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A.J.
0.1.0- Fiancee- Emily (LOL!)
1.0.0- Amel Motley Corn- Valentine (R.I.P 5/20/05)
0.1.0- Snow Corn- Artica
1.0.0- Normal Corn- Ember
1.0.0- Ball Python- G.T.
1.0.0- Bearded Dragon- Stang
2.0.0- Chihuahua- Nightro, Parker
1.2.0- Cats- Mollie, Sammie, Clowie
0.0.12- Fish- All Unnamed

I'm not very experienced with snakes, but I've been reading and listening for several months. I also have a couple of engineering degrees, so heat transfer isn't new to me. My impression is that most snake-keepers eventually get thermostats when they want to do things correctly. I've had mine working for about a month, and I love them. They can't make everything perfect, but they've stopped the unhappy surprises that I used to get when I came home in the early evening and found half of my cage approaching 100 degrees. I had that problem only a few times, but I hated it.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.