Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My friend is hoping to get a ball python soon from a breeder. I know they need a heat pad, a water bowl, and all that other good stuff for a setup, but what about a light? Is it good to get or not worth it? Is there anything else that we should know before we get the snake? I mean anything that care sheets leave out or state incorrectly. Thanks for any help!
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~Shana~

try the care sheets here and at
Link

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my addiction:
2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
1 amelenistic corn snake (mazy)
1 wc eastern milksnake (psycho)

... they are nocturnal, and don't need any special light.
Ken
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0.5 Normal Ball Pythons (Norma, Nova, Nala, Nimeesha, Nyoka)
1.1 Argentine B/W Tegus (Draco and Drucilla)
0.1 Columbian B/W Tegu (Diablo)
1.0 Black Throat Monitor (Razor)
1.0 Desert Tortoise (Tubbs) from Tortoise Rescue
1.0 Boxer (Shadow)
0.1 Feline (CK)
1.0 Memory of my Redtail Boa (Mo) which passed away after 28 years

I agree with not really needing a light for ball pythons. They are nocturnal and usually only come out when it's completely dark. It can't hurt to have one though. My two have a 15watt ESU Reptile SUPER UV bulb. It isn't needed, but it can't hurt, just costs more for it. Just make sure you've got the proper sized water dish, a hide box on the hot side and the cool side and something for it to climb on at night as they will venture around while you're sleeping.
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1.0 Anery Columbian Redtail Boa
1.0 Striped Irian Jaya Carpet Python
0.1 Gray Banded Kingsnake
1.1 Ball Python
1.0 Sunglow Striped Corn
1.1 Leopard Gecko (Male-Albino, Female-Reduced Pattern)
Various Fish

When you say proper sized water dish, what do you mean by proper size? Just enough to hold water, or big enough to let it soak its whole body in?
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~Shana~

Yeah,i always keep a bowl large enough for them to soak in.

...and it is best to have one that cannot be tipped over
as well.(Wide and shallow,or heavy with straight sides.)
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Charles Glaspie

Tanstaafl:
"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch".
An acronym created by my favorite author Robert A. Heinlein.

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~Shana~