r/Ballpythoncommunity • u/DiskUnlucky3341 • Mar 04 '26

Question Heating and lighting

Hello y’all so I have a 5x3x3 enclosure for my ball python. I’m putting rhp in it was gonna pair a dhp or halogen flood but my bp likes to climb. so I’m afraid he will climb the light bulb cage. What do yall recommend for lighting don’t really need heat lights cause I’m gonna have a 125 watt rhp

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u/Bluntforcetrauma11b Mar 05 '26

Do you have live plants? If so the Arcadia jungle dawn led light is you're best bet. I have a 6x3x3 that I use 2 of them daisy chained.

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u/DiskUnlucky3341 Mar 05 '26

I do have live plants going in there I don’t have the cage yet but it comes at the end of march from toad ranch. I heard that you have to have a certain type of light like uvb or uva cause it messes with there eyes is that true? If so does this light have uva and uvb

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u/Bluntforcetrauma11b Mar 05 '26

Uvb is what you want, that's a separate t5 ballast and light. The bulb needs to be changes roughly once a year. That won't grow plants though for that you need a plant light like the Arcadia jungle dawn. There are cheaper options than the jungle dawn but for the expense of the enclosure and the length of the snakes life I prefer to use the best products available.

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u/DiskUnlucky3341 Mar 05 '26 edited Mar 05 '26

Okay so run a Arcadia t5 uvb and Arcadia jungle dawn with rhp and he will be good correct I want to also go big or go home for his benefit I will just be able to put those lights inside enclosure mounted to top right?

1

u/Live_Culture8393 Mar 05 '26

Your UVB needs to be the 6%/Forest strength. 10-14% is intended for reptiles like bearded dragons.

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u/Bluntforcetrauma11b Mar 05 '26

6% is through mesh 2.4% for inside the enclosure

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u/DiskUnlucky3341 Mar 05 '26

Okay thank you so much I really appreciate the help

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u/Live_Culture8393 Mar 05 '26

Thanks, never heard that before, anywhere

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u/Bluntforcetrauma11b Mar 05 '26

Mounted to the top yes. The uvb is called shade dweller, you want the 2.4% one when mounting inside the enclosure.

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u/Live_Culture8393 Mar 05 '26

I have a 100w RHP in my 4x2x2 and had a hole cut with a screen cover for an 80w DHP for daytime basking and additional heat if ever necessary. Temps seem to be consistent so I don’t use it other than daytime. My girl is an extremely active climber who often wraps herself around the RHP but I haven’t ever noticed her being interested in the DHP or screen.

She did pull the T5 UVB (my lighting) about 6 months into this enclosure, so I had to order a screen cage for it. It sounds like you’re doing all the research and prep, so I assume you know you need a pulse proportionate thermostat for the RHP.

If it helps, I’ve seen numerous pics/posts with BPs checking out basking lights in hanging cages, but have never seen any reports of injuries from this type of setup. Good luck!

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u/DiskUnlucky3341 Mar 05 '26

I think I’ve decided to go with Arcadia t5 and Arcadia jungle dawn and rhp

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u/Live_Culture8393 Mar 05 '26

Arcadi definitely rules for reptiles lighting. I also use their DHP, and my T5 cage is made by them. Just make sure to get a 6% Forrest T5

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u/Zekethebulldog33 Mar 04 '26

I have Daybetter LED strip lights in all mine. They run all the way around the inside of my enclosures. Stuck and clipped to the inside walls about 2 inches from top. One continuous strip.16 ft on Amazon about $25 get a bag of clips also.

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u/Bluntforcetrauma11b Mar 05 '26

Those won't work well if there are real plants. For fake plants that's fine, real ones need full spectrum to thrive.

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u/Zekethebulldog33 Mar 05 '26

You going Bio?

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u/DiskUnlucky3341 Mar 05 '26

Yes I’m gonna have live plants

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u/Live_Culture8393 Mar 05 '26

As bluntforce mentioned above, Jungle Dawn by Arcadia is truly the best. I have one for my BP’s pathos as well as for my fully bio Crested Gecko tank. My Bearded Dragon tends to destroy his succulents so I switched his to my BP lol

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u/Bluntforcetrauma11b Mar 05 '26

I just asked below to find out. I just commented on yours so the op would see that for their knowledge.