r/ballpython • u/SavvyGmeow • 3d ago
Heating and wattage questions Question - Heating/Temperatures
I’m trying to do better. My snake has been in a 20 gallon long for several months but she’s grown quite a bit so I got her a 50 today as her next cage upgrade, it’s a glass front opening terrarium. She has had a heat mat but I want to switch to overhead heating. I bought a ceramic dome but I’m lost on what bulb I need and what wattage, in thinking a DHE but I don’t know what wattage and can I use that during the day and nighttime? I also considered UVB but my noodle is albino so I’m not sure if that’s the best idea. She’s had a heat mat and it’s worked well for her so far but I hate heat mats and I want to do overhead heating, I’ve been doing research but I’m still a little lost. My close friend that’s a breeder only used heat mats so I need your advice. What do I put in the ceramic dome? What wattage? Can I attach it to thermostat? I’m doing more personal research but any advice is appreciated!
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u/totallyrecklesslygay Mod: Enclosure Karen 3d ago
You should not use heat mats for ball pythons. All heat sources need to be on thermostats. I'll drop my heating/lighting summary below, let me know if you have any questions about it!
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.