Ball Python habitat help?

Question

I currently have an under the tank heating pad under one corner of the tank, where i put his log hide. i have a heat lamp i want to put over it as well to make the air more humid after misting the tank because he has difficulty shedding sometimes and losing his eyecaps. I'm afraid if i put it over the hide, it will be too hot inside his hide, and if i put it over the other side, there wont be any place for him to cool off and regulate his temperature. What do you suggest would be the best option to increase humidity?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

here is how i have my ball pythons set up i use a vision cage the 36" W x 28" D x 18" H i use the 75 watt basking bulb in the heat dome. which keeps the vivarium around 85 - 90 F during the day and dont put any kind of heating on the cool side of the tank...room temp is fine for that. leave the heat lamp on for 10 – 12 hours a day. also at night just turn off the day lamp and the temp should drop around 70 - 75 at night. put hides on both sides (i have the hot side hide right under the heat light) and leave their water on the cool side. use a substrate that can hold humidity like cypress mulch (forest floor) then just mist it several times a day (3) with a squirt bottle to keep the humidity up. the humidity should be around 60% when you mist it. also put in a piece of driftwood (pet store is easiest) for the snake to use during shedding. if you do change out your snakes house give the snake a week before handling it or feeding it even if you have had the snake for a while it will still need some time to get used to a new home.
here is a link to the vision cage that i have.
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/visi…

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

thanks!

Answer 2

Here are some links to resources which should help you. There is also a lot of other useful information at the forum links.

I've been thinking of getting a Ball, and if I do, it should do well here because I'm in Indiana and it's almost always humid here!


Free download PDF Ball Python Care Sheet
http://www.reptileinfo.com/caresheets/ba…

Ball Python Caresheet at Ball Python forum site.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules.php?…

Ball Python Housing Discussions at Kingsnake forums
http://forums.kingsnake.com/forum.php?ca…

http://www.ballpythoncare.org/
http://www.8ballpythons.com/journal/care…
http://www.pet-care-portal.com/ball-pyth…

Answer 3

how big is the tank? how much ventilation is there? what size is your water dish? i had a small water dish in my tank which had my humidity around 40% justt by placing in a dog bowl type water dish with bout an inch or so of waterin itt, increased humidity to around 55%didn'tt block any ventilation or nothing.

Answer 4

A heat lamp will probably lower the humidity, not raise it. What is your current humidity at?

Try putting the water bowl on the hot side - that will increase humidity. You can try to use reptibark or another substrate that will hold humidity more, that will raise humidity. You can try covering 3/4 of the top of the tank with glad press and seal or something similar to help hold in the humidity. You can also try misting the tank a few times during the day to raise humidity.

You use these tips and I'm sure you will have no problem.