Reptile & Amphibian Forums

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i'm not too familiar with a thermostat, how do i hook it up, where can i get one, and how much are they ?

thanks

Yes, I forgot about the thermostat...that's a good way to maintain constant temperature in the cage without you have to check on the cage too often.

Yes, I forgot about the thermostat...that's a good way to maintain constant temperature in the cage without you have to check on the cage too often.

Someone on here said using heating pad is better, but if you want to use heat lamp, then it depends on the temperature in your house. Test different wattage see what works best for you in your home. Check the temperature in the cage often because if the house get warmer yoiu may end up cooking your snake. You might need higher wattage during the winter month. What i suggest you get is a table lamp dimmer so you can lower the intensity of the heat if needs be, make sure it's rated for the appropriate wattage and you should never use a bulb that is higher than the recommended maximum amount of wattage...you may risk fire.

The vast majority of board members will recommend against using any kind of heat lamp for a ball python. Many newcommers to the hobby are told by Petco staff and outdated books that a glass aquarium w/ a screen top and a heat lamp is the way to go for a ball python setup. This is due partly to inexperience and to the fact that they would love to have you purchase their less than optimal equipment for a 200% markup.

A glass aquarium with a screen top and a lamp acts a little like a food dehydrator. The lamp heats up the air near the floor of the aquarium where it will rise up and out of the screen top. Thus immediately removing all of that nice semi-humid air you created after a misting. The lamp poses the threat of burns and the screen allows for abrasions and possible escape. The fact that ball pythons are nocturnal blatantly demonstrates that they dont require intense daytime light. A warm floor is a MUCH better heating method than a lamp.

Most experienced herpers will tell you to look into some sort of purpose built plastic enclosure. This can be elaborate as a custom made plastic enclosure with an acrylic door, quality hardware, and built in heat...or it could be as simple as a rubbermaid in a shelf with heat tape under it. Either way I recommend using a thermostat to regulate the temp of your heated side of the enclosure (look at some companies on kingsnake). This kind setup keeps in some humidity for days, negates the risk of abrasions and burns, and reduces the possibility for escape. A simple (and clean!) enclosure with a tight-fitting hide spot, access to fresh water, and a ground temp on the warm side around 85-90 is the key to a happy and healthy ball python.

Do your snake a favor and please consider the advice of board members who have YEARS of experience in raising and breeding ball pythons. No offesnse to Knott but he/she is giving advice for a sub-optimal set-up after about a week or two of python ownership. This is apparent after reading several previous posts. It would be best for Knott to stay on the questioning, not answering, side of posting. Good luck to both of you in your lessons about this incredible creature that so fascinates us.

To zawkees and Knott. Read the above post SEVERAL times. This is great advise!!

I was suggesting it because he wanted to use the heat lamp anyway, so I thought it might be helpful instead of not giving any then he wouldn't know what to do. I've read that many do keep the floor warm at 90-95 for ball python...so you're right.

I would suggest you keep the thermometer on both the cool and hot end so you will know the temperatures.

The rest of the cage should be 80-85 constant and the basking spot at 90-95 degree. Maybe others would say otherwise, but from most up to date book that's the recommended temperatures. They say ball python need higher temperature to fair well, especially growing snake.

And what book is this Knott?

"Pythons" by Barlett and Wagner and some other book I forgot the name. They do suggest raising heating the surface like that for snake...so does Philippe de Vosjolis. I get it mixed up with lizard like iquana who need higher air temperature also, however, these are snakes.

Philippe de Vosjolis. Whos that, Is it the guy whose book is loaded with poor info on Ball Pythons. I thought others told you to quit quoting books that are outdated.

WHAT?