Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i cant decide weather or noit to ues a an UTH or a heat lamp.if i get a uth could i use that repi bark stuff and put enough on the bottom so the temps are right?or just get a lower wattage bulb for the lamp?

Personally - I think you should ditch the lamp - get heat tape or an UTH and hook it up to a rheostat or thermostat (Alife makes a good one that is fairly cheap). You'll also need to get a new thermometer and hygrometer - get a good digital one - this shouldn't be something to skimp on. You'll also find with the screen top that you'll have a hard time keeping your temps and humidity proper - you'll have to cover that top up. IMO plexiglass works the best, pegboard works good too or just a peice of cheap plywood even - cover the bottom part with shelf paper will keep it from warping. Also depending on the size of snake you get - you'll probably find that water bowl tipped quite often.

Other than that it's looks like a decent set up. Good luck with your new guy/girl!
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

i only have $100 and the snake is 25 so i only have 75 to spend on the stuff for it and i dont want to blow it all on a hole mess of stuff i dont NEED.but anyways.what is a good type of heat pad?and i have never herd of ayone covering the lid befor.and why do i need digital things?why cant i use the regular ones?

To properly house a ball these are items you do NEED. Sorry it's not cheap to set these guys up - you do need to do it properly. Analogue thermometers/hygrometers are not acurate - inaccurate temps or humidity can lead to a slew of problems. The top does need to be covered - check back through the forum it's mentioned at least once a week - usually under topics like why doesn't my ball shed right, why can't I get my humidty right, why aren't my temperatures stable, etc. etc. I guess it'll just be a learning experience for you.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

Technically that's not all stuff you 'need' to keep a healthy ball python. Many people have actually done just fine with heating with a regular household bulb in a clamp lamp (turned on in the day and off at night). Of course, in order to do that, your house needs to remain at least...what? 68 degrees or higher at night? I don't keep balls, but I did the research on them in the past. I can't remember exact numbers. Anyways, I'll agree definately that you need something to cover the screen top, since BP's need humidity, but there are ways to heat them without breaking the bank. As long as your house is a fairly consistent temperature at least. Granted, some people prefer using heating pads to heat lamps. Personally, I'm not a big fan of heat pads. That's not a natural way for a reptile to get heat. Reptiles heat up by basking under the sunlight, and for some reptiles, by basking on something (like a rock) that had been heated by sunlight all day. Even that is easily and cheaply replicated.

I do almost all of my reptile shopping at home depot. The stuff sold specifically for reptiles, for the most part, is overpriced and unnecessary. UV lights. I haven't used them with my reptiles in a while. I don't have any problems with calcium deficiencies, because I make sure to supplement. My rescued Mali Uromastyx lives in a custom enclosure heated by a 50 watt halogen bulb (that gives her a basking spot temp of over 140 degrees), and also lit by a twist-in fluorescent, and a regular fluorescent bulb. She's healthy as an ox, especially considering her past, and the fact that she's likely over 10-15 years old. My bearded dragon on the other hand...he's never been healthy. I have come to the conclusion though that that has more to do with the blood line than anything else (as I've done a little research into how he was 'bred', and I'm pretty sure his parents were related, and his grandparents were related....etc. etc... lots of inbreeding I think).

Anyways, I've babbled for too long. It's late. Goodnight.

What watt bulb are you using??

I currently use a 60 watt bulb on my 20 long,
and it works for me...

I also have a 10 gallon tank that uses a 40 watt
bulb.

I have great sheds in one piece, and all my snakes
are eating like champs.

i have a 75 watt but im getting a 25 watt anda 50 watt tommaorw just to try somthing out.

Alright, here's the cheapest way to do it:

go to a walgreens or something, and pick up a regular heating pad you would use WITHOUT auto-shut off!

$15-20

Go to walmart/home depot/ect, pick up a bag of cypruss mulch

$1.50

While at walmart, pick up one of their indoor/outdoor digital therms w/ indoor humidity.

$15

Put the unit INSIDE the cage, and have it on the opposite end of the probe...I put my probe in the bedding in the hide-rock. Keep the mulch damp (not drenched!), and put a few branches to climb. Put the heating pad so that HALF the tank is on it (the side with the hide-box!) Keep the side with the water dish off the pad. Cover 75% of the top with a towel (covering the entire side that's on the heat pad). The setting you place the heat pad on will be determined by the room temp. The bedding/inside of the hide-box should be 88-92, and the air on the other side around 80-85. If the room stays a constant temp, you may be able to put the pad on a timer ($10-15) and let the tank cool at night. This set-up gives you a great temp gradient, keeps humidity around 70%, and will only cost you $30-40. Good luck.

Chris
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0.2.0 Grey Rats-Lauren, Avril
1.2.0 Black Rats- Robert, Cady, Kylie
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1.1.0 Crimson Corns-Kane, Ruby
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2.3.0 Ball Pythons-Donnie, Gretchen, Alexis, 100% het for albino balls- Naruto, Hinata
0.1.0 Red-tail Boa-Xena
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