Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello! I'm setting up a tank for a ball python in my husband's office. I've put a digital temp gauge in, and have been moniteering for a week now. The temps in the basking site runs a high of 97 with a low of 90, and the cool end runs a high of 79 and a low of 77. That's with a infrared bulb. Are those temps okay, or should I get a lower watt bulb and try to get it a bit cooler? Also, the guys would like a regular daylight basking light in there, but I nixed that idea, saying the infrared bulb is less stressful for the snake. Am I right?
The snake's living in my reptile room now, and won't be going to the office till conditions are right. He's a rescue (like my daughter's two ball pythons), but we couldn't care more for them if they were special morphs, and want this guy to be happy in his new home.
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I like to use a “daylight” light independent from my heating element. I believe that a daylight cycle is important to the health and well being of the snake. I change the light cycle according to the time of year (I use a timer). As far as changing the temp by changing the wattage, I use ether a rheostat or a thermostat to do that.

the temps are a bit off...ideally the temps should be about 83 on the cool side and 92-94 on the warm side (and i would cast the opinion of never dropping below 80 ever. this is bc you can run a risk of respiratory infection with low temps).

i would suggest getting a thermostat for the heating units. with a thermostat, you also wont get such large temperature swings.

i use a zoomed 500R that you can get for about $30, but there are many brands.
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1.0 ball python "wolfgang"

"never dropping below 80 ever" How do you get them to breed!?!

this is from the original posting:

"Hello! I'm setting up a tank for a ball python in my husband's office"

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i didnt think that most people breed in their husbands office, or is office-breeding the new thing for 2006?

my answer was to her; she obviously wansnt breeding, but thanks for the concern.
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1.0 ball python "wolfgang"

Hey, they did it in the oval office…oh, that right, that wasn’t considered breeding! JUST KIDDIN! Ok you got me. Just being a little anal.

"Hey, they did it in the oval office"

good one!!

oh yeah, do bp's like cigars?
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1.0 ball python "wolfgang"

Too warm. 80F ambient/cool side.....90F warm side, some drop at night, some don't. Cycle at normal temps day and drop whole cage to 68F night from Oct. to April for breeding.

Lights to heat a nocturnal, burrowing snake? Hmmmmm......I would think more "Ball Python" and less....."pet store method"...

Kudos to you for calibrating the cage BEFORE putting the snake in. So many people don't, but you are doing a great job by setting it all up prior. Good stuff.

yes but jeff, we weren't talking about canadian temperatures ... (just kidding!!!!!!)

ditto on getting the cage set up first...
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1.0 ball python "wolfgang"

I know they are nocturnal but…

So no artificial daylight source at all? Do you guys only use normal room light? I don’t use the light to heat the cage, but I always thought you had to control the # of daylight hrs.. Just curious how you guys do it. I’m always up for a bit of advice.

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