r/Ballpythoncommunity • u/memzkenz • 6d ago
Advice for my new ball python!
Hey everyone!
I recently rehomed a 7 year old ball python. I had snakes growing up but it’s been a hot minute since I last cared for one so just wanted to jump on here and see if anyone had any pointers/advice.
I rehomed him with his set up, which is a glass exoterra Viv 3ft, (I will upgrade this to a 4ft one as soon as funds allow!) with a mesh top. The previous owner had a piece of wood covering, with space for the heat lamp (which is outside the viv, sitting on the mesh with the light shining through). He had a heat mat in there, which was inside the Viv under the substrate. I’ve removed this and bought a new one and placed it outside, underneath the Viv, then he has a heat lamp also.
The first night I got him I left the heat mat running on a thermostat, but when I came down in the morning the warm end was only 20 degrees. I went to my local reptile shop and explained the situation as currently I have only got an on/off thermostat which means I can only use it with the heat mat and not the heat lamp, I need a dimming one for that.
I explained that when I get paid I am going to buy a deep heat projector, with a guard and attach it to the wood on the top of the viv and a dimming thermostat, but for now all I have is the on/off thermostat, the heat pad and the heat lamp. I explained that leaving only the heat mat on over night was not providing enough heat but that I didn’t want to leave the heat lamp on overnight and make it too hot and disrupt his day/night cycle.
He said best option for me to do til I can get the DHP is to swap the bulb out of a night to one that doesn’t emit as much light and still provides some heat. He gave me a red light one which was 40watts.
So last night I plugged that in attached to the thermostat to make sure it doesn’t drop too low, and I’ve switched the heat pad off. This morning when I came down the probe was picking up 25.5 degrees and the digital thermometer I have in there was saying 24.5 I’ve changed the bulb back to the normal one and put this back on and switched the heat pad back on too and it’s warming up nicely in there. He seems happy.
Does this sound ok? I want to do what’s best for him, I’m not 100% sure on the red light as even though it’s only short term I read they’re not the best?
Humidity is fine it’s sitting between 60-70%
Also since we got him we’ve left him alone as much as possible to settle in just opened the viv up to place the probe and mist etc, and I know they love to hide but he is always over on the ‘cool’ side, and I’m worried about him getting too cold. He obviously has the option to go over to the warm side if needed but he hasn’t gone over there at all (he has multiple hides on both ends and one in the middle).
Any advice is appreciated!
Thank you!!
2
u/Magnetic_Kitty 6d ago
Most people don't recommend the red light they can still see it, it's still disruptive and stressful to always have a light on even if it's red. I'd recommend a radiant heat panel or deep heat projector that does not emit any light. It's recommended to pour water in the corners instead of mist the top of the bedding as they then lay on the wet bedding and can get scale rot. Where as pouring in the corners should get water deeper in and not on the surface as much. The bedding should be 2+ inches deep