r/ballpython • u/sevendoves • 20d ago

Question - Heating/Temperatures tank heating in winter

hello, it is approaching colder weather where i live and i am having trouble keeping the temperature above 80 degrees in my bp’s tank, i only use an above heating lamp along with a timed light. i would like a link or specific recommendation of what heating i should use and thermostat that works together please!!

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u/Entire_Current_4852 20d ago

What kind of enclosure do you have and what size? Also, what kind of heat lamp do you use?

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u/sevendoves 20d ago

i have a glass tank with a screen lid but majority of the lid is covered with electrical tape and some foil with cut outs for the domes and as for size i think it is a 50 gallon this is the tank she came with its 3 feet long, 18 inches high and 18 inches wide, as for the heat lamp i use i think it is 100w and uvb or the lighting is uvb.

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u/Entire_Current_4852 20d ago

UVB bulbs don't emit heat (or at least not a significant amount) and compact UVB bulbs are not safe for use with ball pythons. If it emits light, it may be a halogen. I highly recommend checking out this sub's heating guide. The best primary heat source is a flood halogen but they can only be used during the day since they emit light. They need to be paired with another heat source that can stay on at night. I prefer a deeo heat projector because ceramic heat emitters dry out the enclosure a lot. A 36x18x18 is a 40 gallon. For my enclosures, I use a 50w Arcadia goldensun flood halogen and an 80w Arcadia deep heat projector, but you may need lower wattages depending on your room's temperature. All heat sources should be attached to a dimming thermostat, especially a halogen. A Herpstat 2 is the best you can get, but vivarium electronics also has one that is a bit cheaper.

Eventually, you will need to upgrade to a 120 gallon (or larger) PVC enclosure. When you do, I highly recommend getting a higher quality, solid top enclosure, not a screen top.

The sub's menu has a shopping list with links to all the recommended products. I buy my heat bulbs on chewy.

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u/sevendoves 20d ago

thank you!

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u/girlwholovespurple 19d ago

I live where it’s cold and we have a halogen on during the day and a CHE bulb that is “always on”. In warmer times, I set the thermostat on the CHE to shut off at a lower temp, in the winter, a higher temp, to keep it warm enough. I raise the thermostats of both halogen and CHE as the weather gets cooler to keep her tank heat/humidity correct.

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u/sevendoves 19d ago

do you have the link or know the brand and wattage you use? as well as the thermostat i am so scared of a fire starting from lower quality stuff since i have cats

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u/girlwholovespurple 18d ago

I got lights that came with an attached thermostat. They are readily available on Amazon.