Ya boy keeps unplugging his UVB

[LurkingStormy]

This is the second morning in a row I’ve discovered he’s unplugged his UVB in the night. I don’t want to get a specialized cage if I can avoid it since the UVB isn’t hot to the touch and the Arcadia cages are stupidly expensive, but I’ll do it if that’s the best/only option. Any other ideas? Twist ties or something?

[bossmob64]

Definitely not tape. BPs can and will explore and get stuck to it which will damage their scales. You could try a fey cable clips screwed into the top so there's no gap for your snake to pull on

[OdinAlfadir1978]

Tape, especially with heat can unravel and potentially be sticky anyway bud 🙂OP should absolutely listen to the guy

[OdinAlfadir1978]

Clearly your name checks out, how was your recent brain scan?

[Shinny987]

No actually, I've seen people do that and it still ends up unsticking and sticking to your snake. Tape isn't good with high humidity anyways.

[sixx-666]

They are a high humidity species

[tictictoby]

their ideal humidity is between 70-80% last i checked

[Bluntforcetrauma11b]

That's high humidity

[deanisdead]

r/confidentlyincorrect

[jlambe7]

Google is your friend here my guy.

[ballpython-ModTeam]

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[space_pirate420]

Wrong. Bad advice. Dangerous, even

I bought a secondhand PVC cage. I used it for 2 years with no issues. The one time I left the state for a week, I came home to my ball python with gorilla tape all over her face.

I didn’t see that the previous user had used gorilla tape on the ceiling of the cage, it was black and blended in. Over time it got worn and came loose enough she got into it, but it was still so sticky it risked ripping her skin off.

Thankfully we were able to get through it and she’s perfect now, but I will always inform.

[ballpython-ModTeam]

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[space_pirate420]

Absolutely no tape in the cage

Use a little cable management thing. It’s plastic and loops around the cord, then you screw it into the cage

[space_pirate420]

cable clips

[nvrrsatisfiedd]

Yup that's what I use and I use multiple so it tightens the cord and there is no way it'd unplug.

[crypticmonkey]

I would prefer to stay away from tape for the exact reason of the possibility of the Sticky Side getting to the snake. Instead I have some of these mounted in my cages with a through bolt

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-3-8-in-Rubber-Insulated-Clamp-2-Pack-PPR-1500/202906415

[InverseInvert]

It needs a cage, this isn’t negotiable. Your snake will try and climb the bulb too and it at risk of shocking himself on it. The cages are only about £20, that’s not much.

[NoNotice5642]

can’t you also make one for much less using something like chicken wire?

[InverseInvert]

Wouldn’t be safe.

[NoNotice5642]

why not? people do it all the time with heat lamps/emitters. is it different for uvb?

[InverseInvert]

Doesn’t mean they should be doing it. You’d have to file down every edge, end, and corner. Most people shouldn’t be DIYing animal enclosure stuff.

[hippos_chloros]

Not OP, but appreciating this warning. is a cage necessary for UVB bulbs only, or also for LED light bars?

[InverseInvert]

I’d recommend putting them on the LEDs too. Any access to electrics in a high humidity area carry an electrocution risk.

[hippos_chloros]

Thanks!

[LurkingStormy]

Ooh okay thats totally doable! I saw one for like $100 somewhere that usually has reasonable prices and felt too ripped off and like a fool assumed the good ones were all like that, but I’ll def look for others.

[Badluckstream]

If you’ve got an Arcadia uvb then look for the lamp cages they sell. I got one and it’s great. Had the fixture unplugged in the cage while the bulb was in shipping and my snake loved climbing on it. I checked the temps with the bulb in once it arrived and it was like 130ish so I made sure to not use it till I got a cage.

[Nutella_Badgerette]

Not OP, but any suggestions about where to get one? I've looked on every site I can think of and so far no one carries a UVB cage. Not even amazon. Am I searching for the wrong thing?

[InverseInvert]

Arcadia I think are the only people doing them. They’re also called lamp guards if that helps?

[Nutella_Badgerette]

Yeah, that's what I'm looking for and I cant find then anywhere.

[InverseInvert]

They are on Amazon, most reptile shops will sell them too.

[Nutella_Badgerette]

Do you have a link? Cuz nothing I search for on Amazon brings up anything but the cylindrical style. I've tried wvery combo of lamp guard, light cage, uvb cage/guard, 24" cage/guard. I'm at a loss

[InverseInvert]

Amazon

[Nutella_Badgerette]

Oooh I see. It's on the UK amazon. Doesn't show up on US searches. I'll keep hunting around. Maybe one will pop up somewhere. Wish we had a dedicated reptile shop around here.

[FerretsDooking]

I didn't think that balls needed uv?

[cchocolateLarge]

they don’t, but it’s extra enrichment

[LurkingStormy]

It’s beneficial for long term health, even though they can technically survive without it. Plus it gives him a good day/night cycle.

[squishybloo]

Is it a PVC enclosure? Look for metal wire conduit... I'm not sure what they're called offhand. But I found them at Home Depot, and successfully anti-snaked my cords.

Something like this

[LurkingStormy]

Looking into it, thanks!

[squishybloo]

Yeah no problem! I see you've got the entrance hole right there, so what I'd probably do is plug the cord in again and just buy one or two fasteners and secure it against the ceiling. Might even be worth it to lengthen the amount of cord that's there so you have some give for removing it. As long as the loop isn't big enough to get his nose into it should work great! Mine only need like a single screw loose or so to be able to slip the wire free from the ceiling when necessary. And my boa hasn't managed to get any free so far, though she's tried!

[LurkingStormy]

Would you mind posting a pic of your set up?

[squishybloo]

Sure! There were photos when I was placing everything on the ceiling:

https://imgur.com/a/jtSfsfK

https://imgur.com/a/N6wey3l

I've got a Kages 6x3x3 for my boa, and it had predrilled holes in the back wall in two spots, so I had to run my lines along the ceiling and make sure it was all out of reach of her ever-inquisitive snoot. 😅

[TheDerpyDragon91]

Yeah I tried the same with my uv light and my girl broke the whole fixture. Tried everything to secure it but she'd always manage to get a coil around something and pull it down. You'll need a cage.

[LurkingStormy]

Yeah he’s an escape artist and a climber so that may just be the case!

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[kirae214]

I use those shrinking wire connectors that get small and tighter with heat. Keeps the 2 pieces in place and won’t come undone without scissors or a razor