View Full Version : do i really need a heat lamp for a bp???
boa+python
10-05-05, 02:41 PM
I was wondering whether or not i really need a heat lamp/ basking lamp, or is a heat pad all i really need. Ive been researching ball pythons for a while and i cant get a straight answer on this some say i do need it others say i dont. If you could give me a straight answer it will be greatly appreciated, i would also like setup info on your tanks (lights, plants, size, etc..) im trying to get as much info on these snakes as possible and this is a question im having difficulty with, so please help. THANKS!!!
:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:
bdriver2
10-05-05, 02:49 PM
Heat pad all the way!! Pythons tend to be more active at night so they aren't really out during the day and they digest through belly heat not basking heat like lizards. Setup is simple I have a cold hide and hot hide (on the heated area), water dish and papertowels as the substrate. hope this helps.
lanceinhispance
10-10-05, 08:53 PM
no you dont need a lamp
crankyboy
10-10-05, 11:45 PM
I use a low wattage heat light (25 watts) on my Ball enclosure just to keep the ambient air temp up a bit. On the hot side I have a desert heat matt and it gives me 90 to 95, on the cool side a tropical one, it gives me 80 to 82, and I have a hide in the middle that's kind of in between. After all this careful setup, my Ball spends most of it's time sitting under a large fallen log that sits behind his warm cave, peering out at me for most of the day, so I'm pretty lucky i get to see him all the time. The room lights go off at 10:30 and his tank lights go off at 11:30, so usually around 10:50 he comes swanking out and slithers around, many times stopping to bask with his midsection under that low wattage lamp. It's got a purplish coating on the outside so it gives a diffused light, so I don't think it's too harsh on his eyes, but it makes his pattern look amazing. You BY NO MEANS need a heat lamp, i just thought I'd let you know that it's not really a bad idea if you have a large and naturalistic setup. Thanks for reading my rambling......
crankyboy
10-10-05, 11:48 PM
Oh yeah, the enclosure is 36 x 18 x 18, repti bark substrate, some moss, corkbark, 2 logs, and 2 caves, will post a pic if you would like
Bass Assassin
10-11-05, 08:52 AM
All my snakes are in a rack system so heat lamps are not practical. As long as the temps are within the desired range it's all good :) with the exception of hear rock lol
by_accident
10-11-05, 11:14 AM
Oh yeah, the enclosure is 36 x 18 x 18, repti bark substrate, some moss, corkbark, 2 logs, and 2 caves, will post a pic if you would like
I'd love to see a pic. I'm working on an enclosure and could use all the ideas I can get.
THanks
crankyboy
10-12-05, 11:22 PM
Her are some pics as requested. If you look carefully at the lighter pic, you can see his nose in the door of the cave.....
<img src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a46/crankyboy/ball03.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
<img src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a46/crankyboy/ball02.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
That's a really attractive set up. What is that substrate? Orchid bark?
crankyboy
10-13-05, 10:52 PM
The substrate is the over priced Repti-Bark from Hagen. I could have gone to Home Depot and bought a few bags of orchid bark, but I was just kinda being lazy since I was already at the pet store :)
kronic2005
10-14-05, 05:58 AM
Awesome setup crankyboy. i cant wait till ive got setups like that!
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