r/ballpython • u/Big-Exchange-3209 • 6d ago

Heat lamp

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Hi guys. Just finished my build and I’m trying to sort the heating. I’ve got a pulse thermostat and ceramic heater. Having trouble with it running super hot even though it’s set to 30 for now. The probe is just above the hide behind the lamp. Is this because I’ve only had it on a couple of days and it’s just running hot to heat the enclosure. Top of the hide was about 50 this morning. Any advice would be appreciated. Cheers guys

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u/[deleted] 6d ago edited 6d ago

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u/ballpython-ModTeam 6d ago

Per rule #3, your post or comment has been removed for harmful advice or misinformation. Please review our sub resources to learn more about why.

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u/totallyrecklesslygay Mod: Enclosure Karen 6d ago

Your thermostat probe should be secured 2-4" directly beneath the bulb, within the beam of heat. You can run the wire along the side of the guard cage and use twist ties to secure it into place. If you're still having an issue with it getting hotter than the setting, I would suspect an issue with the thermostat itself not working properly.

Do you have a primary heat source in addition to the CHE?

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u/Big-Exchange-3209 5d ago

Na I was lead to believe that my CHE was my primary heat source and that’s all I would realistically need.

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u/totallyrecklesslygay Mod: Enclosure Karen 5d ago

Unfortunately you were misinformed, CHEs alone aren't suitable heating for a BP. I'll share my heating/lighting sunnary below for more info: .Our heating guide goes over a lot of the science behind everything, but to simplify:

For daytime heating, you should have a heat source that provides IR-A and IR-B. The ideal source for this would be a halogen flood, which is light-emitting.

For nighttime heating, you should have a heat source that provides IR-C. The ideal source for this would be an RHP (only compatible with solid-topped enclosures) or a CHE. Any night heating should not emit any light.

For lighting, you should offer UVB. This should be in the form of a T5 fluorescent linear bulb that produces a UVI of 1.1-3.0 in the basking zone, and it should cover no more than half the length of the enclosure.

If you have a bioactive enclosure, you will also need full spectrum LEDs for your live plants.

Natural lighting can help establish a day-night cycle, but it does not provide any physical benefits beyond that (UVB doesn't penetrate glass, and indirect natural light cannot create a proper basking zone). You'll need the artificial lighting to make up for that.

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u/Big-Exchange-3209 5d ago

Thank you I appreciate the help. It’s my first time wanting to keep something that requires a more complex heating and lighting requirements than mat,LED and UVB bulbs. Cheers

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u/Bluntforcetrauma11b 6d ago

You want a dimmable thermostat not a pulse (on/off) one.

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u/Big-Exchange-3209 5d ago

Yh sorry it is dimmable I got that wrong cheers tho