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!!!

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

by_accident · 10-11-05, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crankyboy

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">

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

Wrath · 10-13-05, 03:49 AM

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!