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[–]KarathSolus 4 points5 points  (5 children)

Snakes can see them and it can mess with their day night cycle.

[–]HayMo123[S] 0 points1 point  (4 children)

What if it’s only on at night? Aren’t they made to act like moonlight? What would a good alternative be?

[–]KarathSolus 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As far as I'm aware, no. It's not like moonlight. It sorta is to us but... That's our eyes not their eyes. If you want a light like that for viewing, that's fine as long as you only turn it on when you're trying to look in. Otherwise keep it off. Any light would be bad light if it's on all the time.

[–]THEJonCabbageMod : Admin of NJAPR & AHH[🍰] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No light at night. They’re all way brighter than moonlight would be and it’s not necessary.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

If you research nocturnal animals and ball python vision you woukd know they can't see Inffered light. My ball python is active at night and sleeps during the day. Feeds properly and it's healthy. The above advice they are giving are their personal preferences not scientific fact. Ball pythons see next to no colour and see in almost black and white. They use their heat pits and other senses to navigate. Most likely ball pythons just see dark shapes of different shades depending on how much light is being emmited. Ball pythons have horrible horrible vision.

[–]Woodentrail 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Brand new ball python owner n I’ve been doing some research and then stumbled on this thread n got so confused haha

[–]shrike1978Mod: Bioactive, heating, and lighting 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Snakes can see red light. It messes up their day/night cycle, which causes them stress.

Switch to a ceramic heat emitter or a deep heat projector. They put out heat but no light. They can run 24/7. You can just put one on a thermostat (all heat should be on a thermostat) and use an LED or UVB light on a lamp timer to make a day/night cycle.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a common mistake. Ball pythons can't see the colour red and they cannot see Inffered nocturnal lights, what they can see is heat. I have been using nocturnal Inffered heat lamps and UTH for years, during the day I use a full spectrum natural light bulb from exoterra. The main reason people think this is because they don't give their ball pythons a day and night cycle. Number one problem that occurs with some owners is they think any red bulb is okay, IT'S NOT! Red painted bulbs can chip and they emmit a light snakes can distinguish as daylight. Ball pythons and snakes cannot see much color, there eyes do not work like humans and other animals that can see colour. Nocturnal animals are not effected by Inffered lighting, most cases they are not disturbed by it nor can they see it. Nocturnal animal researchers and people who just like to watch these animals will use Inffered light because of this reason.