Reptile & Amphibian Forums

BPs supposedly lay inside a burrow during the day and come out to feed at night. If this is the case, then they rarely see much daylight. Do any of you keep a dark or semi-dark environment? If so, how is it working for you?
-----
Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I have my bp in a room with very little ambient light, from a couple windows with blinds on them that never recieve direct sunlight...it was one thing i did to get my bp to eat, he is still picky and will only eat live, but at least he's eating...my corn seems to have benefitted from this as well
-----
A.J.
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.

The only light my ball pythons see is when I am in my office/snakeroom and have the light on, on the computer, feeding, exc....
I never controlled it, and it varies.
But they eat great and breed for me, so I really don't think it's that big of a factor.
They seem to like the dark.

>>The only light my ball pythons see is when I am in my office/snakeroom and have the light on, on the computer, feeding, exc....
>>I never controlled it, and it varies.
>>But they eat great and breed for me, so I really don't think it's that big of a factor.
>>They seem to like the dark.

That's what I'm wondering. If those using overhead lamps are impacting the feeding response - reducing it.
-----
Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I use the overhead lamps and mine eat just fine. I keep them on a timer that stays pretty close to the natural daylight cycle. They do stay in their hide logs all day but its still light. They are in my bedroom so sometimes I have the lights on pretty late. They still come out and roam at night regardless of the light. I think they more respond to the gravitaional pull from the moon rather than the actual light itself.

ep
-----
Occupants not paying rent:
1.1. balls
1.1 corns
1 everglades rat
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
2.1 cats

I have an Iguana in the same room as my snakes, so I keep a pretty consistant photo period. Everyone eats just fine, but I cant contribute this to the photo period, there are many other factors that could take part in this (live prey, etc. etc). Interesting question, let us know if you come up with anything conclusive.

~Johnny

Jay,

I have two windows in my snake room, but the blinds are drawn and the curtins closed.

there is some sunlight that still comes through, but I need to turn on the artifical lights to work comfortably in the room.

I only put the lights on for cleaning and feeding.

in my experience my balls breed very well, and feeding patterns are normal in my opinion.

TomChambers

My ball python is in a cage against the wall across the room from the one window in this room. Some afternoon sun can brighten the room through the blinds a little bit, but it's generally dim in here. I have a floor lamp on a timer that's on for a little bit in the morning, a little bit in the middle of the day, and most of the evening until about eleven or midnight. I have a fluorescent fixture above her cage, but I only remember to turn on that light about one or two days a week. A few nights each week, I'm in the room past midnight with at least some light on.

I'd say that the room is dim or dark most of the time, but there are some light periods. The opening to her favorite hide is turned 90 degrees to most sources of light, so the light doesn't shine into the hide. She can also use other hides that stay dark.

She eats very steadily except when she's in blue before a shed. She's grown slowly, but I believe that problem is a result of my underfeeding her slightly when she was younger. Her switch to rats seems to have precipitated a growth spurt.

I don't know whether any of this data helps, but I appreciate your asking these questions and looking at the data. I hope you're going to write another paper for your website. Your site is a good resource to the ball python community.

Thanks,

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

>>I don't know whether any of this data helps, but I appreciate your asking these questions and looking at the data. I hope you're going to write another paper for your website. Your site is a good resource to the ball python community.
>>

Thanks Bill! Right now, this is just one of those questions that got me thinking.
-----
Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I have wondered more about the effects of turning on a light to feed than the effects of having some natural lighting in the room.

A bright light suddenly appears around 8pm, snake bins open, rats fall from the sky, snake bins close...

The hungry ones don't care. The other ones wonder what its all about, if the substrate is mulchier on the other side of the plastic, and where that cute boy with the pretty colors went...

Its all pretty strange...

Has anyone tried feeding their ball with a flashlight and a red lens? Night vision goggles? Might work better than flicking on the overhead...

???????????????????????????????

>>A bright light suddenly appears around 8pm, snake bins open, rats fall from the sky, snake bins close...

Too funny!

>>Has anyone tried feeding their ball with a flashlight and a red lens? Night vision goggles? Might work better than flicking on the overhead...

I use a red light in my snake room at night. I believe the sudden bright light does bother them.
-----
Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles