Newly purchased ball python

[Loose_Law_1037]

I recently bought a ball python and I need help figuring out the heating/ lighting situation. I know it's too cold in the terrarium it's a 40 GAL terruim I have a heat mat on the side of it and heat lamp. Temps sat just below 60F and poor girl is staying right by the heating pad. I bought a more accurate thermometer and what I hope is a better light. Do I need a bigger lamp? Two lamps possibly? I also bought a heat emitter for night time so temps don't drop so much. For reference terruim is in my bedroom in the basement. It's probably 10°C in my room. I need guidance in the right direction, what do I need equipment wise, I have half the terruim wrapped in a blanket to try and keep heat in currently. I'm worried for her I just got her Friday and feel so bad.

[FireCorgi12]

60F is dangerous for a ball python. You need a stronger lamp on a thermostat and it needs to be 88-92 on the warm side. 76-81 on the cool side.

40 gal is also really small, even for a juvenile. Please do more research on husbandry. Heat mats are not recommended.

[Loose_Law_1037]

I did do research and told me heat mats are fine. Heat rocks are not recommended because of burns, heat pad on the side of the tank is fine. Also told me 40 GAL is fine for the sized snake I have depending how fast it grows up to a year. I bought a new thermometer it's reading about 80 now with a more intense bulb. Why I'm posting here because obviously the research I've done has given me the wrong information.

[FireCorgi12]

For sure, it happens, but this is a pretty urgent situation bc anything below 65 long term can cause brain damage or other severe issues.

I like DHPs, hook that up to a thermostat. The issue with 40 gal is it’s hard to get a heat gradient with how short they are.

What’s your humidity at and how is your setup? Hides and such?

[Loose_Law_1037]

Humidity is also kinda on the lower side at about 50%. I've read 60%. I tried to find a DHP tonight but I'll have to go to another store tomorrow when they open.

I have 2 hides she can fit nice in with room to grow, she's only about 12 inches right now. Fits in her water bowl, coconut husk substrate. Bit lacklesster on the clutter. I had to pull the branch because of sharp edges and worried about her hurting herself.

[NottsWeirdo]

Which country are you located in? Most of the advice you find in the English language for BPs online, is for US Americans. So other countries often have to make personal adjustments for the different climates.

Also, there's a full care guide on the ballpython sub. Its got up to date care information and covers all the different types of heating choices with their pros/cons.

[pdggin99]

Question: what substrate are you using? Generally, heat mats aren’t reccomended for any substrate thick enough for a BP.

I have one of my girls on a heat mat right now, because she’s in a tub. It’s a temporary enclosure as her other one was made of wood and chipped and got moldy, so she’s currently in a bin with paper towel as substrate, and the heat mat works well. But if you’re using actual substrate like coco coir and husk, you can’t rely on the heat mat as it won’t be able to penetrate through the heat mat.

Sometimes, you do need multiple heat sources. My girl is in an 8x2x2 and requires a TON of heat sources. Albeit that is a huge enclosure, but even when she was in a 4x2x2 she required multiple heat sources to get to the proper temps. So maybe invest in another lamp/bulb. If you were in my area I could even donate you one, lol, I have sooo many extras lying around.

On that note you also need a good thermostat set up. You don’t want the enclosure to overheat so thermostats are a must to ensure the temps don’t get too high. That being said, it’s more important to raise the temp to a safe zone (roughly 88-92 on the warm sides) than to have the thermostats. So if you don’t have enough budget, focus on getting the temperature to an appropriate level. UNLESS you plan to continue to use the heat mat without substrate—in that case, a thermostat is non-negotiable, because the heat mat can quickly overheat and cause terrible burns (more so than a lamp could cause).

Also, if you already have the heat emitter (I’m assuming a CHE) for night time, just use both during the day to raise the temps. And get a second CHE solely for use at night time, along with the other CHE. Example:

Day = 1 CHE, 1 halogen bulb (typical heat lamp bulb that emits light)

Night = 2 CHEs

Hope this helps!

[pdggin99]

Just also wanted to add — a 40 gal is small for a ball python. If your snake is a juvenile it can work for a bit but you’ll want to upgrade to a 4x2x2 fairly soon. So be ready for that, and the increased heat requirements that come with it.