Reptile & Amphibian Forums

From you experience what's the best heating device (size, wattage, brand etc) for a medium sized tub for a ball python?

thanks

anyone?

A bit difficult to answer definitively, since your ambient conditions are unknown to the audience here as is tub size.

Any heat pad will work. Check out Ultratherm heat pads, as they are very nice as are the other brands. Look on the classifieds on this site to see what is available. Size depends on the snake of course, and tub. Perhaps an 11x11 is good for a medium BP. You want some area in the tub where the snake can avoid the heat if necessary. Or use two heaters, and take away one in Summer, use two for Winter. Either 6x11 or 11x11. Use one dimmer setting for one, another dimmer set lower for the other. These are just suggestions.

Use a temperature controller. One method: a lamp dimmer, then get an ON/OFF controller to turn the dimmer/heater combo off if the air temp gets too high.
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Mark

Hello, I can tell you this. In some zoo's I cant speak for them all, human heat pad's with built in safety shut-off are used in off exhibit housing. Usually only 1/2 of the heat pad is needed. DON'T FOLD or BEND the other half. If you have something larger like a 40G-75 the entire heat pad can be taped to the bottom of the enclosure on the basking lamp/light side, allowing the animal to move out of the heat if the heat becomes uncomfortable. Your animal will tell you allot if you watch it. This is just one suggestion take at your own discretion.

Forgot to mention, if your running any kind of aquatic system even if its contained to one section of the setup I would not recommend using heat pads under the tank. If you must, tape them to the back side away from the water setup, and above the water line,in case of leak or spill. Also you can put an aquatic water heater in the main pool of water and that will help raise the temp in the enclosure by several degrees. Just had to put that in for the CWD guys, they go nuts with the rivers and fountains.