Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought a 4' ball python yesterday advertised with a cage and access. When I got the fellow home, I noticed he had a respiratory infection from being housed (as I then learned) at room temp. Apparently his heating equipment never really made his 70 gal tank any warmer than that. I took him to the vet and got him antibiotics, and now I need to figure out how to get him into the necessary 85F-ish temp. I put him into a smaller 20-30 gal tank, and bought a ceramic heater and its holder. $145 later, his tank isn't getting above 70F on the warm end. I need immediate help - please, what equipment do I use to heat a 20-30gal tank at 85 degrees F? What do you other proud ball python owners use? Thank you VERY much for your help.

2 quick fixes:

1. You need a hot spot - several ways to do this (undertank heater and put his hide on top of it or lower the ceramic heater so it hot spots an area better...trying to get it around 90.

2. cover the tank with plexy (or something to hold the heat...it sounds like you have a screen top and are venting all the heat out?

Also, shut off any room vents, room AC units, fans, etc...anything that would pull heat from the cage.

Hope this helps some.

The right heat is needed for digestion. It’s very important to have a heat gradient. One side should be hotter than the other. Use the ceramic element on the same side as the under tank heater. A cheep cover is clear vinyl. You can role it back as needed, and it’s great to hold in humidity (you need some of that so your snake can shed properly). Also give your snake a hiding spot on the cold side and the hot side so it won’t pick security over comfort. Put the water on the cold side also. Get a book on Ball Pythons!

Good Luck!

PS: When your snake sheds make sure the eye covers are in the shed skin

PS: Look at my post ubove,"Getting temps right"