Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been keeping the heat lamp on for my snakes 24/7....i have read that is is benificial for them to have night and day times....

so my question is, should i turn off the lamp at night and have an alternative heat source? Is there something i should be doing differntly?

Thanks!
rayni

If you use a bulb made for night use (black or red reptile bulb) or a ceramic heat emmiter, you can leave it on all the time. I would not leave a visible light on 24 hours a day. If you want to use a visible light during the day, I would suggest to get a timer for the lamp and a heat pad for under the tank. If you choose light wattages carefully, and make sure the heat pad is an ok temp, you can leave the heat pad on all the time, and use the lamp during the day to give a slight boost in temperature. Or you could get rid of the light entirely, and just rely on a heat pad. If you live in a dry climate, the latter might be the best option (lamps are drying).
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-audri
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I wouldn't continue leaving the light on your ball 24 hours a day. Like us, they need a photo period of 12 hours of day and night, and i would think this would be stressful. Buy an undertank heater or a human heat pad with hi low and medium settings and depending on your night time temperature put that on him/her. Keep the heat pad on all of the time and turn your heat lamp on during the day and off at night. Just be mindful of the temperature in the tank...you don't want your ball to roast!! But that's what i do. Hope I helped and answered your question.

thanks to you both....great insight, thanks for being so helpful!!

rayni

I have read that you should have a UTH and a heat lamp to heat the cage. The UTH should be on at all times, and the heat lamp should be on for 12 hours of the day.I have never had a snake, so I may be wrong.

I HOPE THIS HELPS