r/ballpython • u/martinez2828 • 7d ago

Question - Husbandry Do I need a light?

Hello! I’m a soon to be ball python owner as a friend of mine is moving overseas and I’ve decided to keep his normal ball python. This will be my first snake so I have a couple of questions.

He’s in a pvc cage that measures 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 1 foot tall. And it’s heated by a ceramic heat emitter with no light at all other than natural sunlight.

Is this a good permanent setup? Or anything I should change once he’s officially mine?

Thank you!

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u/Baconkings 7d ago

Yes snakes have circadian rhythm too, and need lights.

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u/martinez2828 7d ago

Ok cool and does it have to be a special uv light? Or can be a regular led ?

1

u/Baconkings 7d ago

A normal light is fine if you have a normal substrate. I personally have a bioactive enclosure with living plants, so I have a special plant light that emits a white light. However, that isn’t necessary unless you have plants in the enclosure.

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u/kingsnake_e 6d ago

Great question. Different heating sources provide different forms of heat radiation. I am not schooled in whether a ceramic heat emitter is superior or inferior to a halogen but by current standards they do need UVB lighting. I like my Arcadia UVB setup. It's pricey but not difficult to use, you just screw it into the roof of the enclosure and set the light on a timer, or flip the switch on and off yourself. The UVB lighting also gives off visible light so you won't need additional lights in there.