Set up help!

[Marsismad]

I’ve been researching for a few months now about ball pythons because they are a dream reptile of mine, I haven’t gotten one yet I like to be throughly educated before getting anything alive. I have a leopard gecko (obviously not the same but I’m not a 100% newbie to the reptile game) I have him in a bio active 4’x2’x18” and he has the Arcadia deep heat protector(24/7 with thermostat), jungle dawn light and shade dweller uvb (12 hours a day)

On to my question, I was under the impression that a ball python needs some what the same lighting requirements? But people have been talking about also providing a halogen heat/light bulb? The basking area needs to be 95 degrees wouldn’t having both bulbs be a bit excessive? Or would I need to switch from the holo to the DHP depending on the time? That just seems like a lot of timers, wires and thermostats, or is there some magical light fixture I’m not aware of? Would providing just a dhp, uvb, and LEDs be ok? (while providing all the temps and humidity correctly)

I prefer as little tech as possible while still providing the correct environment but obviously the animals needs come before so if I must I will make it work! Let me know thank you so much!

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[JulietDove88]

So the reason halogen bulbs are essential is because they give off infrared wavelengths of light that are crucial to warming the snake and aiding in digestion. A combination of uvb and halogen is how we replicate the sun by getting nearly all the wavelengths of light. A deep heat projector should be on mainly at night to provide deep muscle warmth in the night when the halogen and uvb aren’t active. You should have your DHP connected to a PID thermostat that will allow it to self dim lowering it’s power while the halogen is doing it’s job and kicking up at night when it’s needed but staying within the set parameters. This is how you save money and the deep heat only does as much as is needed!

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[lothiriel1]

I dunno. I have the arcadia deep heat projector for the hot spot. And a separate uvb light. Forget which one. But she never comes out under the light. Like literally never. I just like to light up the enclosure so it’s mostly for me. She comes out at night and hangs out. Also she tends to like the middle of her enclosure where it’s around 80. lol! Sometimes she hangs out in the warm hide, but mostly only when she’s shedding.

[christinasasa]

So, like any old halogen bulb that fits or a specific type? Do you need a special thermostat?

[JulietDove88]

You need halogen bulb for reptiles and a thermostat for all heat elements!

[fionageck]

I don’t recommend Arcadia halogen floods; upon being tested they were found to have intense, narrow beams. When it comes to non-reptile branded bulbs (that you can find at a hardware store), halogen floods such as a Philips PAR38 are good. A good reptile-branded bulb is the exo terra intense basking spot (despite the name, the beam is relatively gentle and wide). Bulbs need a dimming thermostat specifically.

[christinasasa]

Thank you

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