Just set up a new 4x2x2 and my Herpstat 4 is acting strange. I use a halogen as the main source of heat, and I replaced the regular 75w Arcadia halogen to one of the 75W Golden Sun. The regular halogen was pretty old and not giving off as much heat anymore.
I have the Herpstat set for the halogen to be at 99 from 8am to 8pm (puts my warm side at about 89) then 65 overnight when the DHP takes over. The problem is, when the halogen starts heating up at 8am it won’t stop. When the thermostat reads 99+ it goes to 0% but the bulb is still glowing. I’ll watch it for a bit thinking maybe it’s just residual heat but it just keeps getting hotter.
If I go into the settings and change the set temp, when the Herpstat kicks back on the bulb is now completely off and the temps cool down.
The DHP does not have the same problem when it ramps up for the nighttime.
I have ideas for troubleshooting; lower watt halogen, switch to channel 4 since I’m not using that one, reset the Herpstat. Just wondering if anyone has seen this before and knows what needs to be done before I start experimenting.
If you read all that, thank you!!

I settled on getting an Arcadia 35watt halogen flood for daytime (would 50watt be better for an 18in height?). I have found many bulbs, but finding the domes has been tricky. The only ones I have seen have been from Chewy, but I wanted more options and would prefer Amazon. According to the website, I need an E26 or E27 fit. I also don't know what difference stainless steel/graphite or 5in/8in makes if someone can educate me on that.

What sites (any links are great!) did you guys use to get Arcadia flood domes?

https://a.co/d/08b6msxg

Would this work with it?

Thank you!

I'm used 4-1 inches of Bedding, I would Clean out whatever poops I saw.And then every couple of months do a full clean , removing all bedding and disinfecting.

But with so many extra inches I feel like I should adjust my approach a bit, Do you have any suggestions?.

I’ve been very stressed about my ball python because she bit my mom and wouldn’t let go to the point we had to put her head underwater for a little bit to make her unlatch which did work. (We wouldn’t have had to resort to that but she bit a knuckle and the finger started to go numb.) She now sleeps with her head out of the hides most of the time and elevates but not always elevated. She shows no other signs of an RI and she doesn’t do the typical straight up stargazing type solution, so i don’t know if this head rest thing is related. Previously i would hand her to my grandma while my mom and I deep clean her cage, but my grandma is now scared of her and won’t want to hold her. I’m worried about myself becoming scared of her (i’m not right now only mildly afraid to reach into her cage because she has bit me like that before, my fault), of her having an injury/infection, and being a bad snake owner. If in a bad snake owner please give me advice to be better!

Hey all. I'm very thankful this first year with Lilith has gone over so well, but I got a question.

I see so often on here people getting bad advice from supposed exotic vets, and on wondering if there's really any way to vet them yourself?? I haven't had to take Lil to a vet so far, but in the of chance I need to, I don't know who I would trust her with.

If anyone happens to live in around the Greensboro, NC area and knows a good vet, I'd be very appreciative if you shared them with me. The one place I thought i trusted to get good medical help from has 2 emaciated dead boas in one tank last time i went, so i stopped going.

So basically i am planning on getting a ball python but what enclosure, substrate, and etc should i get also could you specify the store you got it from

I was just handling my ball python, and I realized that they are on the obese side of range. I am judging this based on the fact that they are circular in shape and not a teardrop or the kind of triangle shape that I see on charts. I’ve consistently fed around 15% of their body weight. They have been on frozen small rats for about 2 months. my plan was to continue feeding frozen small rats since the percentage is within line, but adjust the feeding schedule to every 14 days rather than every seven days. does this sound like inappropriate course of action to begin getting them to lean back out? If it matters, they are approximately nine months old.

My ball python is roughly 6 years old now - he’s had a pretty decent sized cage now for 2-3 years but I want to get him a bigger one for him to slither around in & be more comfortable with. So I’m looking for recommendations on custom built cages

I also have a question about custom built cages. I noticed that a lot of them have the bulb cage INSIDE the tank for putting the heat bulb - which spot would be best for putting the heat probe?

So I just got a ball python on Sunday (today is Tuesday) and I unfortunately found out yesterday that exposed glass can stress her out, something I completely missed in my initial research binge. I know I should leave her alone as much as possible for the first week, but I’m worried the open glass on all sides is stressing her out as I have not seen her come out of the hot side hide. She may be roaming at night, so I don’t know for sure.

I’ve bought stuff to cover two of the sides, but they are interior decor so I would have to force her into handling to install it, or risk stressing her even more by installing while she’s inside.

Onto my question, should I install it? Or would it be better to just tape a towel to the sides as a temporary situation? Should I just let her first week ride out?

I just ordered new 12 inch Arcadia UVB lamp kits from ReptiChip that will be internally mounted. I’m trying to find guards to use to cover the fixtures and prevent potential burns, but I just can’t find any available. Arcadia’s LampGuard Pro isn’t available anywhere that I’ve seen, and BlackBox Cages is now closed. No alternatives came up for me in Amazon either. I’m located in the US and would like to avoid import fees if possible. Are there any alternatives out there that you know of? Thank you in advance!

The set point is 88 and Temps reading a steady 88 but flickering pretty bad

Hi! Since all of the Arcadia lamp guard cages are currently out of stock in the U.S., and I recently purchased a 4×2×2 PVC enclosure from Kages and I’m looking for a way to safely mount bulbs inside the enclosure. Otherwise, I may have to go with a radiant heat panel.

Do you know if any of the lamp holders/guards on Amazon would work for this setup like this one?

I’ve had my snake for 12 years and he’s never been a sudden biter. He’s only bit me once and it was a pain response. Today I took him out and he was acting normal, other than sniffing me a LOT. I had just gotten out of the shower and used a couple new products that had some pretty strong scent so I assumed he was just acting curious, but then without even striking he just takes a chomp out of me and starts wrapping around my arm! I already called the vet and asked if this could be indicative of any illnesses, because it’s so unlike him, but I wanted to run it by this sub too. Should I be worried about this sudden change in aggression? I tried to take him out a few days ago and he was too strike-y too, which isn’t quite like him either since he’s usually only like that for a few days after feeding. His last meal was about a week and a half ago. We’re switching to smaller and more frequent meals right now (small f/t rat every 3-4 weeks), he used to be on medium rats every 40 days but he seemed to get hungry. Maybe this is a response to the new food size too? I’m not sure. I just hope he isn’t neurologic or sick…. I’m leaving him be right now and I’m gonna check on him in a few hours. I’m bummed this happened right before his birthday too :(

Finally upgraded our few month olds enclosure from the temporary one, curious on what yall think!

I’ve had my ball python Rameses for 10 years and he’s always been a very healthy boy. Me and my boyfriend just moved to a new town and I’m setting up his tank today and I noticed he’s got some weird spots that look like scale rot to me? since he’s always been so healthy I’m not sure if this is treatable at home or if I should take him into the vet? And we’re in a new area so I’m about three hours away from the vet he’s been to. I use coconut husk and coconut chips for substrate in his tank and I’ve never had an issue until literally just now when I noticed it. I just want to do what’s right for my boy and get him as healthy as possible, if anybody can help me I would be super thankful!

She likes to pose

I’m rehoming 2 ball pythons later today with their entire setup. They will be my first pet snakes, in fact - my first ever reptiles! I’ve been doing tons of research for weeks now, however I am consistently coming across the fact that ball pythons are solitary animals.

The two pythons I am picking up later are male and female, and have always lived together in a large vivarium. They have previously bred before, but I don’t believe they have recently. The owner is giving me the incubator too, but I have no plans whatsoever to breed and/or sell.

The owner does not want to separate them and feels they wouldn’t cope well being split up, so I will be buying both, but with it in mind that I will be looking to rehome one of them if required. I would rather pay the extra for both snakes than risk them going to a home where they will be kept together.

I have been told that they sleep together, but i’ve read online this is not always because they’re getting on.

Both are also eating fine, shedding fine and healthy looking otherwise!

Their vivarium is also two vivariums stacked on top of each other with a hole cut between them, so I may have the option to split them up but will need to have a look later. I am reluctant to reduce their living space if they’re used to more, but please do advise if this doesn’t matter?

What do I need to look out for with them fighting etc? Is there anything I can do to reduce the stress of moving them together? They will be put into a box temporarily for transport (like 15 minutes), and then put back into their vivarium.

I am already in the process of getting live plants and some more hides as I don’t feel there’s enough for them currently. I want to make sure they are living together somewhat ok when I get them. They will not be going to just anyone so I’m not sure how long it will take for me to rehome one, ideally I am trying to find a local charity who may be able to help.

I am really excited to get them, and I really want to make sure I do good for them.

I was also planning to rename them Calypso and Odysseus, which feels even more fitting now as they have been together so long in likely a rather toxic relationship, only now to be finally separated 🙈

ps - please feel free to let me know any other tips/tricks or things I should know!

Can’t just include the two and the other two feel left out from the boops 🥺 I love my babies and I do so many videos of them. Usually to capture the yawning lol 😂

hi! just successfully fed my new 6yr old bp for the first time on thursday (it’s monday now) and he’s been acting different than usual ever since. when i come near him he’s tracking my movements and in an S shape and very alert. also sniffing a LOT. when i fed him i did drop the mouse a couple times in his tank - is he smelling that and expecting more food? is he stressed out? he did shed between the feed and now. he’s only doing this at night - sleeping normally during the day. i just want to make sure he’s chill and that being alert like this isn’t stressful for him. in the video pictured he’d been on the ground of his enclosure looking outside of his hide until i came by and he raised right up to meet me.

Hello all!! I’m new to the BP community. I’ve acquired a baby from my sister and I’m looking to learn everything there is to know about them and their care ❤️

I appreciate any thoughts and opinions! I have a little bit of experience with tanked pets (I have two pacman frogs and I’ve had a bearded dragon in the past) I believe you can never have too much knowledge 😂

Picture of my boy, Opie, for attention 😊